Myelodysplastic syndromes and aplastic anaemia Flashcards
Define myelodysplastic syndrome
Myelodysplastic syndrome is an acquired disorder whereby a you get clones of dysfunctional myeloid cells.
You get cytopenia, dysfunctional rbc, myelocytes and thrombocytes, and an increased risk of developing AML.
Who does myelodysplasia affect?
The elderly
List some MDS bone marrow morphological features by cell type
Neutrophils:
- bilobed: pseudo Pelger-Heut anomaly
- thinning and longing out of nuclear lobe connections: myelokathexis
- hypogranulation: dysgranulopoeisis
Red blood cells:
- Dyserythropoeisis of red blood cells
- Auer rods (this suggests AML)
- Cytoplasm blebs
- Ringed sideroblasts
Thrombocytes:
-micro thrombocytes
What do you called bilobed neutrophils?
Pseudo-Pelger-Heut anomaly
Differential for bilobed neutrophils
What is myelokathexis?
Where the lobes of neutrophils are connected by thin strands
What features does dyserythropoiesis entail in MDS?
Erythrocyte precursors conjoined by cytoplastmic bridges
What do ringed sideroblasts mean?
Siderotic granules around the nucleus as a ring
What do myeloblasts with auer rods suggest?
AML (very bad)
What is the classification system used for MDS?
WHO classification - based on number of dysplastic lineages
What scoring system is used to predict survival and the likelihood of developing acute myeloid leukemia? What is this system based on?
IPSS-R:
BM blast percentage
Karyotype
Degree of cytopenia (neutrophils + platelets)
Hb count
How many genetic abnormalities would confer poor prognosis for MDS?
More than 3 abnormalities
What is the evolution of MDS? How long does it take for symptoms to show?
Weeks/months
Blood counts deteriorate, worsening consequences of marrow failure
AML evolution
As a rule of thumb, what is the cause of death in these patients?
1/3 will die from infection
1/3 will die from bleeding
1/3 from acute leukemia
Curative treatment of MDS. What’s the main problem with these?
- SCT - allogeneic stem cell transplant
- Intensive chemotherapy
They are sometimes too intense for the elderly.
Supportive treatment of MDS
Transfusions
Antibiotics
Growth factors - erythropoeitin, G-CSF, TPO/thromopoetic receptor agonist (to enhance platelet production)
List some biological supportive drugs for MDS, and how they work
Azacytidine and decitabine - both are hypomethylating
If the white count is high (which is unusual), what drug is used?
Hydroxyurea, also called hydroxycarbamide
Name another type of chemo that can be used in low doses for MDS
Low dose chemo - cytarabine
Name a type of biological modifier which is used for a specific variant of MDS
Lenalidomide - used for the 5q del variant
List some primary causes of BM failure
Congenital - Fanconi’s anaemia
Diamond-Blackfan anaemia
Kostmann’s syndrome
Acquired idiopathic aplastic anaemia - most common cause
What is Fanconi’s anaemia?
Inherited aplastic anaemia, pancytopenia due to a DNA repair defect. Autosomal recessive.