Myleodysplastic syndrome (MDS)

Question 1

How is the bone marrow affected in myleodysplastic syndrome?

Answer 1

Dysplastic

Lots of abnormal cells that are proliferating

Question 2

What is myelodysplastic syndrome charactised by?

Answer 2

Bone marrow failure

Somatic gene mutations

Dysplastic morpholgy

Liklihood to progress to AML

Question 3

Can somatic gene mutations be inherited and passed on?

Answer 3

Absolutley not

Question 4

What % of bone marrow cells are dysplastic in MDS?

Answer 4

>10%

Question 5

What type of leukaemia does MDS usually progress to?

Answer 5

AML

Question 6

Regarding what MDS is characterised by, what are the clinical features that can occur?

Answer 6

Bone marrow failure

Fatigue

Brusing & bleeding

SOB

Pallor

Petechial rash

Question 7

Although the classic BM failure symptoms can occur, how does MDS usually present?

Answer 7

Anaemia and thrombocytopenia but with NO symptoms

IT’S ASYMPTOMATIC

Question 8

What are some of the causes of MDS?

Answer 8

Chemo

Radiation exposure

Question 9

How is MDS treated?

Answer 9

BM transplant

Blood transfusions

EPO injections

Thrombopoeitin injections

Question 10

What score is used to assess the severity of MDS?

Answer 10

IPSS-R

Question 11

What is the difference between MDS and AML regarding the % of myeloblasts that can occur in bone marrow?

Answer 11

MDS: <20%

AML: >20%