Monday, May 25, 2009

What is MDS Syndrome?

By Wendy Packerstin

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is clone-type malignancy that is related to the blood. This disease does not respond well to treatment. All three types of blood cells - red, white and platelets - are deficient in the presentation of MDS.

A patient with MDS syndrome experiences an abnormal production and reproduction of blood cells, this means that the patients blood is manifesting itself by creating negative defects in its blood-forming cells. As this problem with the blood cells continues it often worsens and the bone marrow slowly starts to deteriorate.

The number of MDS cases may increase in number as the population gets older. The rate of occurrence increases from 5 in 100,000 below the age of 70 to 30 per 100,000 over the age of 70 years old.

Some common symptoms of MDS syndrome include bleeding and bruising, reoccurring infections, extreme fatigue and pale skin.

About one third of all MDS patients, according to medical reports, will develop acute myleoid leukemia or AML. This is commonly known as secondary AML. Patients living with MDS may develop progressive cytopenias or AML with or without treatment.

There are four categories of risk for MDS patients. Their survival chances are affected by the percentage of bone marrow blasts, cytopenias numbers and the cytogenetice abnormalities that are present. These 4 categories are based on median years of survival. Low risk is a median survival of 5.7 years. Median survival of 3.5 years and 1.1 years are both considered intermediate risk. High risk has a median survival rate of less than 6 months.

*Median survival of 5.7 years is considered low-risk

*When median risk is 3.5 years, this is considered intermediate risk

*Another intermediate risk is 1.1 years median risk.

*High risk median survival is less than 6 months

MDS can be genetic and are also caused by some environmental factors like prolonged exposure to benzene. Benzene is a known carcinogen and a toxic chemical commonly used to manufacture commercial goods such as gasoline, cigarettes, sodas, and many more. Most people are unaware that handling, ingesting, and inhaling benzene may develop MDS.

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