Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are diseases in which the bone marrow produces no healthy blood cells in sufficient number. The healthy bone marrow contains immature cells, called progenitor cells which, under normal conditions, produce red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, with the following features:
• red blood cells, or erythrocytes, carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues;
• white blood cells, or leukocytes, fight infection and some diseases;
• platelets, which help the blood to clot
In MDS, the bone marrow fails to produce blood cells normally these. Thus, there is a lack of efficacy. Dysplastic cells die still inside the bone marrow or shortly after entering the circulation. Consequently, people with MDS have reduced the number of red blood cells (most common), white blood cells and platelets, leading to:
• anemia caused by an insufficient number of red blood cells;
• infections caused by an insufficient number of white blood cells;
• bleeding and ecchymosis (bruising), caused by an insufficient number of platelets.
In most cases the cause of MDS is still unknown. However, some are recognized risk factors, such as anti-cancer treatments prior to chemotherapy and / or radiation and exposure to certain chemicals.
Most patients with MDS are men with an age above 60 years, and also slightly more common in Caucasians compared with other racial groups.

Treatment
The treatment of MDS subtype depends on the SMD and the level of risk. It is very important that patients be referred to a Hematologist so they can be properly oriented. There are many subtypes of disease and a grid to estimate prognosis, so that the evaluation by a medical expert is essential.
In the SMD supportive therapy is very important. The anemia can be corrected with medications that stimulate production of red blood cells and red blood cell transfusions. For a rapid correction of the anemia should be prescribed transfusion, since the stimulation takes weeks to months to take effect. For correction of anemia in a patient with MDS is also very important to evaluate and correct iron deficiency. The low white blood cell can be combated with specific growth factors which generally have a rapid effect. The decrease in platelets can only, at present, be corrected with platelet transfusion. These growth factors (for white cells and red) biotechnology products are identical to those normally found in humans.
Some patients with MDS may have indicated to receive cytotoxic chemotherapy. Recently, they were also available therapies more specific interfering with genetic alterations and the bone marrow microenvironment in SMD with reasonable success. However, the only curative therapy for this disease is a chronic transplant of hematopoietic progenitors (also termed bone marrow transplantation), which can be explained by the severity of the disease, particularly in a young patient. Therefore, as one can see, there are multiple possibilities for therapeutic intervention that prolong survival and improve quality of life of patients with MDS.
Prevention
The greatest risk factor for MDS is a previous treatment for cancer. The exposure to certain chemicals, such as benzene, can be associated with one SMD. It is possible that smoking is also a risk factor.