Myelodysplastic Syndromes Overview
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a rare group of blood disorders comprising several types of diseases. A precise diagnosis is necessary for determining the most effective treatment. It is therefore critical to find the right medical team and facilities to make an accurate diagnosis of MDS and design your individualized therapy.
At Sheba Medical Center in Israel, our Hemato-Oncology Division has cutting-edge diagnostic equipment and a world-class team of doctors to evaluate your cancer. Many leading physicians, including hematologists and medical oncologists, will collaborate to ensure that you receive the most progressive care possible to fight cancer. We are involved in the latest scientific research to treat myelodysplastic syndromes, and we will base your treatment program on the results of these studies. In addition, if you require a bone marrow/stem cell transplant, we utilize a precise HLA laboratory and our molecular laboratory to identify the perfect donor match. When necessary, we can also use stem cells from the National Marrow Donor Program data bank, of which Sheba is a member.
We treat cancer with a holistic approach that pays attention to your whole body, and not just MDS. From your initial consultation through follow-up examinations, our compassionate team will focus on optimizing your quality of life and comfort. Cancer can have devastating effects on your physical and psychological health, which is why your treatment program at Sheba includes a variety of professional support service
About Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are cancers that originate in the bone marrow and affect the growth of blood cells so the body cannot function properly. In about one out of every three patients, MDS progresses into acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a disease in which blood cells grow uncontrollably.
Originally, myelodysplastic syndromes were regarded as pre-leukemic conditions, and they were only classified as distinct disorders in 1976. In the general population, MDS is relatively rare; however, in patients over age 60, it is estimated that the incidence is between 20-50 per every 100,000 people.
What is MDS?
In myelodysplastic syndromes, the blood stem cells do not develop and mature into healthy platelets, red blood cells, or white blood cells. Because the blood cells remain immature, they do not function properly and die either in the blood marrow or shortly after entering the bloodstream. Subsequently, there are not enough healthy blood cells in your body.
What are the Risk Factors for MDS?
- Older age: Most cases of MDS are diagnosed in people in their 70s and 80s
- Gender: MDS is more common in men than in women; the reason for this is unknown
- Cancer treatment: Prior cancer treatment with certain chemotherapy drugs puts people at a higher risk for MDS
- Genetic syndromes: People with specific inherited syndromes are at higher risk for developing MDS. Examples of associated genetic diseases include: Fanconi anemia, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, familial platelet disorder with a propensity to myeloid malignancy, severe congenital neutropenia, and dyskeratosis congenita
- Familial MDS: A gene mutation that runs in the family can lead to a higher incidence of MDS
- Smoking: Carcinogenic substances in tobacco smoke are absorbed into your blood as it passes through your lungs, thereby spreading to many parts of the body
- Environmental exposure:
How Many Types of MDS Are There?
There are several types of MDS, depending on how the blood and bone marrow cells have been affected. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) classification system, MDS is categorized based on how the cells appear under a microscope and how many abnormal cells are present.
Using these variables, the WHO system defines six main types of myelodysplastic syndromes:
- MDS with multilineage dysplasia (MDS-MLD): two or more types of blood cells are affected
- MDS with single lineage dysplasia (MDS-SLD): the red blood cells are most significantly affected
- MDS with ring sideroblasts (MDS-RS): the red blood cells cannot process the iron that is necessary for producing hemoglobin, and instead the iron forms a ring around the nucleus of developing red blood cells
- MDS with excess blasts (MDS-EB): one or more types of blood cells are affected, and there are excess blast cells in the bone marrow and blood
- MDS with isolated del(5q): the red blood cells are affected, causing anemia, and there is only a small quantity of blast cells in the bone marrow and blood
- MDS, unclassifiable (MDS-U)
MDS can also be defined based on the clinical classification, which refers to the underlying cause of the disease. If no cause can be identified, it is called primary MDS; this is the more common type. When the cause of the disease is known, it is termed secondary MDS. Diagnosing MDS as primary or secondary is essential for determining the best course of treatment.
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Sheba Medical Center provides innovative, personalized medical care to patients from around the world. We are the largest, most comprehensive hospital in the Middle East and dedicated to providing advanced and compassionate medicine for everyone. We welcome all cases, including the rarest and the most challenging. Our medical teams collaborate to provide the best possible health outcomes. From your initial inquiry through the long-term follow-up care, we are here for you.
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