hematology and oncology
Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
Introduction
The myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is group of clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders typified by peripheral cytopenia, dysplastic hematopoietic progenitors, a hypercellular or hypocellular bone marrow, and a high risk of conversion to Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) . Symptoms are referable to the specific cell line most affected and may include fatigue, weakness, pallor (secondary to anemia), increased infections and fever (secondary to neutropenia), and increased bleeding and bruising (secondary to thrombocytopenia). Diagnosis is by blood count, peripheral smear, and bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. Treatment with The number of people diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in the United States each year is not known. Some estimates put this number at about 10,000, while other estimates have been much higher. MDS is most commonly diagnosed in people in their 70s. 