Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Overview

Mayo Clinic has been a world leader in the treatment of patients with bone marrow disorders, including myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Although myelodysplastic syndromes are relatively rare, Mayo Clinic physicians care for more than 1,600 patients with these syndromes each year.

Patients with MDS face the risk that the disease will transform into leukemia, which can be difficult to treat. The chances of developing leukemia depend on the subtype of myelodysplastic syndromes and the specific genetic injury that occurred in the bone marrow cells. Most patients suffering from MDS live with complications from persistent low blood counts, including infection and bleeding.

Diagnosis

Many patients with myelodysplastic syndromes suffer from a variety of symptoms caused by low blood counts. Other patients have no symptoms at all. Physicians often detect MDS incidentally after performing a blood count for another reason. Hematologists diagnose MDS based on a careful review of the patient's blood under a microscope and a detailed clinical evaluation. An experienced hematopathologist also conducts a bone marrow biopsy. Careful analysis of the bone marrow chromosomes can reveal the MDS type and exclude other possible diseases. The diagnosis of MDS can be extremely difficult to make. Several other disorders can have similar blood counts and bone marrow appearance.

Treatment Options

There are no known drugs that cure myelodysplastic syndromes. Some patients with milder forms of the disease may be able to survive for many years with "supportive care," using growth factors, transfusions and antibiotics. For some young and healthy MDS patients, a bone marrow transplant can sometimes cure the disease. Mayo Clinic doctors are testing a "mini-transplant" approach that they hope will be a safer and equally effective option. Read more about treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes.

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What are Myelodysplastic Syndromes?

Myelodysplastic syndromes comprise a set of bone marrow conditions that cause inadequate production of normal blood cells (i.e., oxygen-carrying red cells, infection-fighting white cells, and platelets that stop bleeding). These conditions usually affect older individuals (average age at diagnosis is mid-60s), but MDS can affect patients of any age. Some patients develop MDS as a result of treatment of another condition, such as cancer. In these cases, MDS often develops years after the completion of chemotherapy or radiation. However, for most patients the cause of myelodysplastic syndromes is unknown.

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