Myelodysplastic syndrome

Question 1

What is myelodysplastic syndrome?

Answer 1

Where the myeloid bone marrow cells fail to mature therefore not producing healthy blood cells

Question 2

What does myelodysplastic syndrome cause?

Answer 2

Anaemia
Neutropenia
Thrombocytopenia

Question 3

Myelodysplastic syndrome is most common in:

Answer 3

Elderly people/ over 60s

People who have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy

Question 4

What is the increased risk associated with myelodysplastic syndrome?

Answer 4

Transforming into acute myeloid leukaemia

Question 5

Presentation of myelodysplastic syndrome

Answer 5

May be asymptomatic and incidentally diagnosed on a FBC
Symptoms of anaemia - fatigue, SOB, pallor
Symptoms of neutropenia - frequent/ severe infections
Symptoms of thrombocytopenia - purpura or bleeding

Question 6

Diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome?

Answer 6

FBC will be abnormal
Blood film will show blast cells
Diagnosis confirmed by bone marrow aspiration and biopsy

Question 7

Management of myelodysplastic syndrome?

Answer 7

Depending on severity of symptoms, risk of progression and overall prognosis:
Watchful waiting
Blood transfusions if severely anaemic
Chemotherapy 
Stem cell transplantation