by EBSCO Medical Review Board

MDS refers to a group of bone marrow disorders. New blood cells (called blasts) do not grow into mature, healthy blood cells. It can cause problems with the immune system, oxygen levels in the body, bleeding, and more.

Bone Marrow Sites in Adults
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Normal Anatomy and the Development of MDS

All blood cells start in the bone marrow. They begin as stem cells. These cells mature into:

  • Red blood cells—Carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
  • Platelets—Help the blood clot to stop bleeding.
  • White blood cells—Help the body fight infection and disease.

Blood cells need to be replaced often. If new ones are not made it will lead to low levels of blood cells in the body. With MDS, stem cells are made but do not fully mature. They crowd the bone marrow and make it hard for healthy cells to grow. They also move out into the blood. These early cells cannot do the work of healthy blood cells. It can lead to a wide range of symptoms.

Primary MDS is caused by a problem in the genes. It affects how the cell develops. It is not always known what causes the change. Secondary MDS is linked to prior cancer treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy both cause bone marrow damage. It may lead to damaged stem cells.

Cancer Cell Growth
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Types of MDS

Blood and bone marrow cells are tested in a lab. The results help with how MDS is classified. Types of MDS based on The World Health Organization (WHO) classification include:

  • MDS-RS with multilineage dysplasia (MDS-MLD)—This is the most common type of MDS. Found in about half of cases. It affects at least 2 types of blood cells. In some people, it can become acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
  • MDS with ring sideroblasts (MDS-RS)—Low numbers of red blood cells, and normal numbers of white blood cells and platelets.
  • MDS with single lineage dysplasia (MDS-SLD)—Low numbers of one type of blood cell, and normal numbers of the 2 others. This type of MDS generally has the best outcome. MDS-SLD turning into AML is rare.
  • MDS-EB-1 with excess blasts—One or more blood cell types are too low. Some blasts may be found in the bloodstream.
  • MDS-EB-2 with excess blasts —Like MDS-EB-1. More blasts are found in the bone marrow.
  • MDS, unclassified (MDS-U)—The details of blood and bone marrow cells do not fit into any other type. It is not common.
  • MDS with isolated del (5q) —A certain gene in the bone marrow cells is missing. Red blood cell counts are low, but white cell counts are normal. There may be a higher number of platelets.

References

General information about myelodysplastic syndromes. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/myeloproliferative/patient/myelodysplastic-treatment-pdq#%5F1. Accessed April 19, 2022.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/myelodysplastic-syndrome-mds. Accessed April 19, 2022.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Merck Manual Professional Version website Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/hematology-and-oncology/leukemias/myelodysplastic-syndrome-mds. Accessed April 19, 2022.

Types of myelodysplastic syndromes. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/myelodysplastic-syndrome/about/mds-types.html. Accessed April 19, 2022.

Understanding MDS. MDS Foundation website. Available at: https://www.mds-foundation.org/what-is-mds. Accessed April 19, 2022.

What are myelodysplastic syndromes. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/myelodysplastic-syndrome/about/what-is-mds.html. Accessed April 19, 2022.

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