Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Updates and Nuances

Med Clin North Am. 2017 Mar;101(2):333-350. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2016.09.006.

Abstract

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous, clonal stem cell disorder of the blood and marrow typically diagnosed based on the presence of persistent cytopenia(s), dysplastic cells, and genetic markers. Common issues that arise in the clinical management include difficulty confirming MDS diagnosis, lack of a standard approach with novel agents in MDS, and few prospective long-term, randomized controlled MDS clinical studies to guide allogeneic blood and marrow transplant. With the recent genetic characterization of MDS, certain aspects of these issues will be better addressed by integrating genetic data into clinical study design and clinical practice.

Keywords: Anemia; Azacitidine; Blood and marrow transplant; Myelodysplastic syndrome; Therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / genetics
  • DNA Methylation / genetics
  • Hematologic Tests
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / diagnosis*
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / genetics
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / physiopathology*
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / therapy
  • Prognosis
  • RNA Splicing / genetics