Knowra Myelodysplastic syndrome Myelodysplastic syndrome Myelodysplastic syndromes are clonal bone-marrow disorders in which abnormal blood-cell development causes one or more cytopenias. Some cases progress to acute myeloid leukemia.
Clonal hematopoiesis : The expansion of blood-cell populations descended from a single stem cell carrying an acquired genetic alteration. MDS begins when abnormal stem-cell clones disrupt normal blood formation.
Cytopenia : A reduction in the number of one or more types of circulating blood cells. Low red cells, white cells, or platelets are common clinical evidence of MDS.
Revised International Prognostic Scoring System : A clinical scoring system estimating survival and leukemia-transformation risk in myelodysplastic syndromes. It combines blood counts, marrow blasts, and cytogenetics to stratify MDS risk.
Aplastic anemia : A bone-marrow disorder in which blood-forming stem cells are depleted, causing pancytopenia and a hypocellular marrow. It can cause similar cytopenias, but typically lacks MDS’s dysplastic clonal pattern.
Clonal evolution : The change in genetic composition of cell populations over time as some clones acquire advantages and expand. Tracking clone evolution may clarify why some MDS cases progress to leukemia.
Ineffective hematopoiesis : Blood-cell production in which developing cells die or mature abnormally before supplying adequate functional cells. It explains why marrow may be cellular even while blood counts are low.
Complete blood count : A laboratory test measuring red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, and related indices. It identifies and tracks the cytopenias that prompt evaluation for MDS.
Azacitidine : A hypomethylating medicine used to treat myelodysplastic syndromes and some other myeloid cancers. It can reduce disease burden and improve blood counts in higher-risk MDS.
Megaloblastic anemia : An anemia caused by impaired DNA synthesis, commonly due to vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, producing enlarged blood cells. It can mimic marrow dysplasia but may improve when the deficiency is corrected.
Molecular classification of myelodysplastic syndromes : The grouping of MDS by recurrent genetic alterations and molecular features rather than morphology alone. Genomic subtypes may refine prognosis beyond conventional blast counts and chromosome tests.
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