The myelodysplastic syndromes are diseases affecting the bone marrow or organ involved in the formation of blood cells. The bone marrow produces abnormal cells.
These diseases are characterized by a decrease (two or three) of principal cells constituting the blood: red cells, white cells and platelets.
Myelodysplastic syndrome was formerly called refractory anemia. This condition may eventually evolve into a form of leukemia in the elderly. The elderly are also most affected by the syndrome. Less than 10% of people younger than 50 years and rarely children.
Myelodysplasia may appear several years after treatment against cancer.
Complications can occur such as infection can be fatal. Depending on the type of myelodysplastic syndrome, the disease can develop into acute myeloid leukemia.
A treatment is a bone marrow transplant in patients younger. Generally, older subjects do not have a graft, but a symptomatic treatment satisfactory.
13 juillet 2010
| The text above is for information purposes only. Only a doctor can diagnose a disease. No treatment (medication or scheme) should be undertaken without consulting a health professional. |