What is Myelodysplastic Syndrome?

Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of bone marrow disorders that cause the bone marrow to produce abnormal blood cells. Myelodysplasia (my-eh-lo-diss-pluh-zha) is the general term for a group of diseases characterized by ineffective production of one or more types of blood cell in the bone marrow. Myelodysplastic syndrome is one specific type of myelodysplasia.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of bone marrow disorders that cause the bone marrow to produce abnormal blood cells. MDS is a broad term that includes several different conditions with similar features. These include:

Refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB). Raeb is a form of anemia in which there are too many immature blood cells in your blood, but they don’t develop into healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets as they should.

Refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD). RCMD causes cytopenia — low levels of red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets — accompanied by an abnormal proliferation of immature cells in the bone marrow.

Treatment Options

The treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome depends on the disease stage, your age and your overall health. Treatment options include:

Stem cell transplant (also called bone marrow transplant). Stem cell transplants replace the stem cells that produce blood in the bone marrow. It’s considered the best treatment for people with myelodysplastic syndrome that has progressed to leukemia.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. While chemotherapy can’t cure myelodysplastic syndrome, it can help slow down progression of the disease.

Blood Transfusion

Blood transfusion is a procedure that involves the transfer of blood or blood components from one person to another. Blood transfusions are used to treat many conditions, such as anemia and some forms of cancer, and they’re also done for preventive reasons, as in the case of people who have a high risk of developing a serious condition.

When you need a blood transfusion, your doctor will select the type and amount of blood needed based on your diagnosis and medical history.

Blood transfusion for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a treatment that involves replacing blood components and red blood cells to treat anemia. It is used in people who have low red blood cell counts due to a disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Blood transfusion is not always needed, but it can be helpful if your body’s needs are greater than they can be met through lifestyle changes and other treatments.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is usually the first treatment option for people with myelodysplastic syndrome. Chemotherapy can be given to people with myelodysplastic syndrome alone or combined with a stem cell transplant.

Chemotherapy is given over a period of 3–6 months, depending on the type of chemotherapy used and your response to treatment.

Chemotherapy may also be given alongside other treatments, such as bone marrow or stem cell transplantation.

The most common side effects of chemotherapy include hair loss, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, diarrhea, and fatigue (feeling tired).

Clinical Trials for Myelodysplastic Syndrome?

There are a number of clinical trials currently happening for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The majority of these trials are being conducted by pharmaceutical companies who are looking to develop new drugs or therapies that can benefit people with MDS.

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) are a group of diseases which affect the bone marrow, causing it to stop working properly. In order to help people like you find answers faster, we’ve put together this list of clinical trials for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS).