Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

Description

A group of diverse bone marrow disorders in which the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells. In MDS, the blood-forming cells (stem cells) in the bone marrow become abnormal (dysplastic) and have problems making new blood cells, leading to low numbers of one or more types of blood cells.

Common Symptoms

• Fatigue and shortness of breath (due to anemia - low red cells)
• Frequent or severe infections (due to neutropenia - low white cells)
• Easy bruising or bleeding (due to thrombocytopenia - low platelets)

Common Causes

• The cause is usually unknown (de novo MDS). It can also be caused by prior treatment with chemotherapy or radiation (therapy-related MDS).

Treatment Information