myelodysplastic syndrome

Question 1

what is myelodysplastic syndrome

Answer 1

clonal disorder of bone marrow causing abnormal blood cell productive leading to cytopenias (low blood cell counts)
can progress to acute myeloid leukaemia

Question 2

timing of secondary myelodysplastic syndrome

Answer 2

around 5 years post chemo and radio

Question 3

presentation of myelodysplastic syndrome

Answer 3

underlying cytopenias (anaemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia)
- pallor, fatigue, dyspnoea, susceptibility to infections, bruising, petechiae
asymptomatic

Question 4

diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome

Answer 4

peripheral blood count
bone marrow examination- dysplastic changes in haematopoietic cells and varying degree of blasts - abnormal shapes of RBC, WBC and platelet
cytogenetic analysis

Question 5

treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome

Answer 5

depends on subtype, patients age and overall health
supportive: blood transfusions, growth factors
disease modifying therapy: hypomethylating agents, lenalidomide
immunosuppressive therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation