Myelodysplastic disorders**

Question 1

What is myelodysplasia?

Answer 1

abnormal maturation and proliferation of haematopoietic stem cells in bon marrow

Question 2

Pathophys of myelodysplasia?

Answer 2

deformed cells cannot get into blood stream

often affects red cells, granulocytes, platelets (pancytopenia)

Question 3

Presentation of myelodysplasia?

Answer 3

often in elderly
isolated anaemia
general - fatigue/ SOB/ pallor/ petechiae

Question 4

Symptoms of myelodysplasia?

Answer 4

depends on affected cell line:

neutropenia - recurrent infections
thrombocytopenia - easy bruising/ bleeding

Question 5

Lab findings/ investigation of myelodysplasia?

Answer 5

cytopenias in FBC
blood film = morphological disorder of cell line
red cell macrocytosis
bone marrow exam

Question 6

WHO classification of myelodysplasia?

Answer 6

6 subtypes

Question 7

What condition can myelodysplasia develop into and why?

Answer 7

AML - build of of blasts in bone marrow

Question 8

Treatment of Myelodysplasia?

Answer 8

Blood and platelet transfusions
thalidomide