Know more about MDS

What is the story of MDS?

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of diseases that affect the bone marrow and blood, typically developing in older adults. Bone marrow is the soft, blood-producing tissue inside the bones. People with MDS produce an insufficient amount of healthy blood cells and are at risk of developing acute leukemia.

Myelodysplastic syndromes are rare diseases that occur when the body’s hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells develop errors (mutations) in their DNA. The error causes the stem cells to become dysfunctional, so they can no longer produce enough healthy blood cells. Patients with MDS have fewer red blood cells (resulting in anemia), fewer platelets (resulting in easy bruising or bleeding), and/or fewer white blood cells (resulting in increased susceptibility to infection).

MDS is commonly referred to as “a disease of aging.” Approximately 10% of people with MDS will develop acute leukemia. In addition, certain genetic mutations are linked to an increased risk for leukemia.

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of bone marrow disorders. In MDS, the bone marrow doesn’t make enough healthy blood cells.

MDS is also known as myelodysplasia or preleukemia. If a MDS becomes leukemia, it’s called secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

A bone marrow transplant can cure some types of MDS, especially if the disease is caught early. Other treatment options include chemotherapy, growth factors and blood transfusions.

Red cells – are a type of blood cell involved in the delivery of oxygen to all parts of the body. They have a red colour due to the presence of a protein called haemoglobin, which is responsible for binding oxygen molecules. Red cells also contain iron, which helps it to carry oxygen molecules.

White cells -(also called leukocytes, pronounced LOY-kuh-sitez) are the body’s defense against disease. Some white cells live only a few hours, while others may live as long as 3 to 4 days.

Platelets – also called thrombocytes, are small blood cell fragments that help stop bleeding. Platelet counts range from 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter (µL) or cubic millimeter (mm3) of blood. The normal platelet count for infants is higher than for adults.

What is the meaning of Myelodysplastic Syndromes?

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of blood disorders that result in the underproduction of normal blood cells. MDS is also known as preleukemia, or “smoldering leukemia.”

The term myelodysplastic syndromes refers to a heterogeneous group of clonal stem cell disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis leading to cytopenias and a risk of transformation into acute leukemia.1,2 The World Health Organization has defined a system for classifying these diseases.3

Myelodysplastic syndrome is considered a rare disease by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Myelodysplastic syndrome, or a subtype of Myelodysplastic syndrome, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.

Is MDS Cancer?

The first thing to understand about MDS is that it is not a cancer. It is a blood disease, and it is not contagious. The reason for this confusion is that it can lead to AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia), which is a cancer. About 10% of people with MDS will go on to develop acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The cells in your body normally grow and divide in an orderly way. If cells keep dividing when new ones aren’t needed, a mass of tissue forms. This is called a tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant: Benign tumors aren’t cancerous. They can often be removed and don’t usually come back. Cells in benign tumors don’t spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are cancerous. They may be able to be removed, but they often come back. Cells in malignant tumors can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

Understanding Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The exact cause of myelodysplastic syndromes is unknown. But it is thought to be related to problems in the DNA of your developing blood cells. The DNA damage may result from exposure to certain chemicals or radiation therapy for other types of cancer. Myelodysplastic syndromes are also more likely to occur in older people.

There are many types of myelodysplastic syndromes — each has distinct features that affect how it behaves and responds to treatment. Doctors usually classify myelodysplastic syndromes based on the number of blasts you have in your bone marrow or blood, as well as the type of blood cell that’s affected.

For some people, myelodysplastic syndrome rarely progresses into acute leukemia. But for others, it’s more serious and more likely to progress into acute leukemia.

What are MDS Early Signs and Symptoms?

These syndromes can sometimes develop into acute myelogenous leukemia.

Symptoms:

Early signs and symptoms of the myelodysplastic syndromes may include:
Fatigue
Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
Weakness
Fever
Pale skin (pallor)
Easy bruising or bleeding

How is MDS Treated?

The treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) depends on the type of MDS you have, your age, and how risky the disease is.

Treatment may include watchful waiting, blood transfusions and medications. Some people may need a bone marrow transplant.

Watchful waiting means observing your illness without treatment until symptoms appear or change. This is often the case when someone has a low-risk MDS such as refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB).

Blood transfusions may be needed to treat anemia. This will likely be a lifelong treatment unless a cure can be found.

What is the Prognosis for an MDS Patient?

The prognosis for a myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patient varies greatly and depends on the type of MDS, the extent of the disease and other factors. It is important to understand that not all patients with MDS will progress to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

The most important factor in determining the prognosis for an MDS patient is the percentage of blasts or immature cells in their bone marrow. The classification system is based on this percentage. The higher the percentage of blasts, the shorter the life expectancy. The lower the blast count, the longer a patient can live.

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