Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Our Transplant Program

Information about our transplant program

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is the name given to a group of closely related diseases that arise in the bone marrow and involve hematopoietic stem cells, the immature cells from which all blood cells develop.

Each year between 15,000 and 20,000 new cases of MDS are diagnosed in the United States. As the nation's population ages, the number of new cases of MDS is rising. The median age of patients is 70. Secondary (treatment-related) MDS -- which may occur as a result of earlier chemotherapy treatment for cancer -- accounts for about 10 to 20 percent of the cases now diagnosed.

In this section, you can find up-to-date information about MDS, and learn about Memorial Sloan-Kettering's clinical expertise in caring for patients with this disorder.

Our Approach & Expertise
Doctors at Memorial Sloan-Kettering are expert at distinguishing myelodysplastic syndrome from the many other conditions with which it is often confused.
Overview
In patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, the bone marrow stops making healthy blood cells and instead produces abnormal, poorly functioning cells.
Risk Factors
People who have received previous chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer are at increased risk of developing myelodysplastic syndrome because chemotherapeutic agents, as well as radiation treatment, target rapidly dividing cells such as those in the bone marrow.
Symptoms
Symptoms of myelodysplastic syndrome can include anemia, bleeding or bruising, and susceptibility to infections.
Diagnosis
Myelodysplastic syndrome is often not diagnosed until the patient is seen by a hematologist. MDS cannot be diagnosed definitively until a bone marrow sample taken from the patient is examined by an expert hematologist or hematopathologist (a pathologist who specializes in diseases of the blood).
Classification & Staging
Physicians classify myelodysplastic syndrome using criteria that help them predict the course of the disease and select the most effective treatment.
Treatment
Current treatment strategies are designed to slow the progression of myelodysplastic syndrome and to alleviate symptoms. Bone marrow transplantation provides a curative option for some patients.
Our Clinical Trials
A continually updated listing of our current clinical trials for adults with myelodysplastic syndrome.
After Treatment
Patients who have myelodysplastic syndrome should be carefully monitored for any changes in the status of their disease.

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