What is MDS?

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is a group of cancerous diseases in which the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells. The term “myelo” refers to the bone marrow and “dysplasia” means abnormal development or growth. MDS is also known as “myelodysplasia.”

Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. Without enough red blood cells, you may tire easily, become short of breath, feel lightheaded or dizzy, or look pale.

White blood cells fight infections. Without enough white blood cells, you are more likely to get infections, some of which can be serious and life threatening. You may also bruise or bleed easily, or develop petechiae (tiny red spots on your skin).

Platelets help prevent bleeding by making blood clot. When you do not have enough platelets in your blood, you can bleed excessively even with minor cuts or injuries.

People with MDS are at risk for developing acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), a fast growing cancer of the blood in which too many immature white blood cells called myeloblasts are found in the bone marrow and spill into the bloodstream.

What are the symptoms of MDS?

It is important to note that many people with MDS do not have any signs or symptoms. However, if you have MDS, you may experience some of the following:

-Easy bleeding or bruising

-Frequent infections

-Fatigue

-Shortness of breath

-Weakness in arms and legs

-Pale skin color

-Sores in your mouth

What Causes MDS?

For one thing, cancerous cells can be found in nearly every tissue type in the body; but another factor is that some of us have defective genes that lead to malfunctioning, uncontrolled cell growth. Outside of age and family history, there’s not much evidence that any other factors contribute to the increased risk for MDS.

Low Red Cell Count (Anemia)

Low red cell count (anemia) is a condition that occurs when the blood does not have an adequate amount of oxygen-carrying cells. The medical term for this condition is “anemia.” If you have anemia, you may feel tired and weak. These symptoms are usually more noticeable during exercise, when your body needs more oxygen than usual.

There are many types of anemia, which can be classified in different ways. Anemia can be classified by the size of red blood cells and amount of hemoglobin in each cell. Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body’s tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. Anemia can also be described by how it was caused. Common causes of anemia include:

-Loss of blood due to heavy menstrual periods, injury or surgery

-Poor diet or reduced intake of iron, folic acid (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, or other vitamins and minerals needed to make red blood cells

-Destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis) due to medications such as antibiotics or drugs used to treat cancer

-Destruction of red blood cells in sickle cell disease

Low Platelet Count (Thrombocytopenia)

Low blood platelet count (thrombocytopenia) is a condition in which there are not enough platelets in the blood to form a clot and stop bleeding. Platelets are small fragments of cells that help keep clots from dissolving too quickly. The normal number of platelets are 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter of blood. If your platelet count falls below 150,000 per microliter, you may have thrombocytopenia.

In some cases, low blood platelet counts are caused by another disease or condition. For example, leukemia or other cancers can cause low blood platelet counts by eliminating the bone marrow cells that produce platelets. In other cases, low blood platelet counts can be caused by the body attacking its own platelets. This is called immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Other causes of low blood platelet counts include:

-Lupus

-HIV

-Viral infections such as mononucleosis or hepatitis B and C

-Chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer

-Medications that prevent rejection of transplanted organs (immunosuppressive drugs)

-Exposure to toxins such as pesticides or alcohol

How to Diagnose MDS?

To diagnose MDS, doctors often use a process called staging. This helps them understand how far a disease has progressed and what might happen next. The process involves testing and a physical exam. If the doctor thinks you may have MDS, they will likely send you to a hematologist, or blood specialist, for further evaluation and treatment.

What tests are used to stage cancer?

Staging depends on the type of cancer you have. Different cancer types respond differently to treatments and have different survival rates. In addition to your medical history and physical exam, your doctor will use one or more of these tests:

Blood tests: A sample of your blood is taken in order to look for anemia or low platelet levels in your bloodstream. These are common signs of MDS.

What is the Treatment Plan for MDS?

The treatment plan for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) depends on the type and severity of MDS. In some cases, no treatment is needed. But if you have symptoms or low blood cell counts, you may need medication to help your bone marrow make more cells. You may also need a blood transfusion. And if you have low red blood cell counts, you might need medication to boost your red blood cells and decrease fatigue. Sometimes, MDS progresses to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), in which case treatment will focus on fighting AML. Because MDS is a complex disease, it’s important to work with a doctor who has experience treating people with it.

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Clinical Trials

Advances in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) research are only possible through clinical trials. Clinical trials are research studies that involve people. The clinical trials on this list are for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). All trials on the list are supported by NCI. NCI’s basic information about clinical trials explains the types and phases of trials and how they are carried out. Clinical trials look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease. Treatments might be new drugs or new combinations of drugs, new surgical procedures or devices, or new ways to use existing treatments. The goal of clinical trials is to determine if a new test or treatment works and is safe.