Myelodysplastic Syndromes
At the Paleo Faliro Hospital we have the ability to diagnose and treat a wide range of hematological diseases.
A heterogeneous group of hematological disorders of bone marrow function are called myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
They occur more often in older people (over 65 years of age) but can also occur at younger ages and in children. Normal bone marrow contains immature blood precursor cells that develop into normal mature red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
In patients with MDS, immature cells can accumulate in the marrow or have a reduced lifespan, resulting in the appearance of cytopenias with corresponding clinical symptoms. Another characteristic of MDS is when the mature cells are not normal in terms of their morphology and function.
Anemia resulting in easy fatigue, neutropenia with the appearance of frequent infections, and thrombocytopenia with bruising or bleeding, are the most common clinical problems.
A percentage of patients with Myelodysplastic syndrome will develop into Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Early and correct diagnosis and classification into the risk group to which each patient belongs is a prerequisite for proper therapeutic treatment. For this reason, international prognostic systems have been developed for the classification of the different categories of MDS.
Extensive laboratory testing of the patient’s peripheral blood and bone marrow is required (marrow aspiration and bone marrow biopsy). Differential diagnosis from other diseases that mimic the symptoms of MDS is essential.
Through our collaboration with special departments and specialized laboratories, we achieve the correct evaluation of each case of a patient with MDS. Examples include cytogenetic testing and the search for DNA mutations, which provide important information for the prognosis of the disease and contribute to the selection of the correct treatment.
Therapeutic treatment includes supportive therapy (red blood cell and platelet transfusions and the treatment of infections) and treatment with special agents (growth factors, hypomethylating agents, lenalidomide, etc.) that improve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease in a significant percentage of patients.
Research in the field of MDS is constantly expanding and we will soon have newer, more effective drugs available that will improve the quality of life and survival expectancy of patients with MDS.
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