Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are types of cancer developing condition occurring when the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow become damaged. This can result in the low number of blood cells in the body. There are three types of blood cells; red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells are responsible for the transportation of oxygen rich blood to various parts of the body and when its deficiency occurs, it can cause anemia. White blood cells are important to fight off against infections and platelets are essential for the blood to clot when injuries occur. In one-third of the affected individuals, this condition can progress to become a cancer of bone marrow cells known as acute myeloid leukemia. There are three types of MDS which are refractory anemia, refractory cytopenia and refractory anemia with excess blasts.
Causes
In most of the cases, the cause of MDS is not known. Individuals going through treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancers such as breast cancers are at increased risk of developing MDS for up to 10 years after treatment. This form of MDS is known as secondary MDS that is associated with chromosomal abnormalities in cells in the bone marrow. Long-term exposure to various environmental and industrial chemicals can also trigger MDS.
Symptoms
The type of symptoms is based on the severity of the disease and the type of blood cells affected. In several of the cases, MDA can develop slowly with people not presenting any symptoms during the initial stage which is mostly detected during a routine blood test. Individuals with the low red blood cell count are often anemic which can be the initial diagnosis. Individuals with anemia experience fatigue, lack of energy, pale skin and shortness of breath. When the white blood cell count becomes low, it makes the individual more susceptible to developing infections of the skin, lungs and the urinary tract. Individuals with the low platelet count have the tendency to have bruising and bleeding after minor bumps. They can also experience nosebleeds, bleeding of the gums particularly during a dental procedure.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is based on the blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy that is examined under the microscope to determine the characteristic abnormalities.
Treatment
The treatment is based on the type of MDS, the age of the affected individual and their general health. Most of the cases don’t require treatment in the initial stage of the disease which is often monitored with regular checkups. The aim of the treatment is focused on preventing and treating the complications that arise from the disease. The main treatment is providing supportive care by including antibiotics, blood transfusions and to help with the normal production of blood cells in the bone marrow. Alternatively, low dose chemotherapy is given or a combination of medications may be administered intravenously. In some case, a stem cell transplant may increase the chance of cure for the disease.
References
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/myelodysplasia/Pages/Introduction.aspx
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/myelodysplastic-syndrome/detection-diagnosis-staging.html
https://www.mds-foundation.org/what-is-mds/
http://www.leukaemia.org.au/blood-cancers/myelodysplastic-syndrome-mds
