Classically, MDS has a hypercellular marrow – too many cells. In contrast, aplastic anemia has a hypocellular marrow, showing a very low number of cells. But there is a subset of MDS called hypocellular MDS.
- Is myelodysplasia the same as myelodysplastic syndrome?
- What are the two types of aplastic anemia?
- How long can you live with myelodysplastic syndrome?
- What can mimic MDS?
- How do MDS patients die?
- What is the best treatment for MDS?
- What are the common early signs of aplastic anemia?
- Do you need chemo for aplastic anemia?
- Can you live with aplastic anemia?
- How serious is myelodysplastic syndrome?
- What is considered high risk MDS?
- Is MDS curable?
Is myelodysplasia the same as myelodysplastic syndrome?
Myelodysplastic syndromes are also called myelodysplasia or MDS for short. This group of conditions causes a drop in the number of normal blood cells. Myelodysplastic syndromes get their name from myelo, meaning bone marrow, and dysplasia, meaning abnormal growth.
What are the two types of aplastic anemia?
There are two different types: Acquired aplastic anemia. Inherited aplastic anemia.
How long can you live with myelodysplastic syndrome?
Survival statistics for MDS
WPSS Risk Group | Median Survival | Risk of AML (within 5 years) |
---|---|---|
Very low | 11.8 years | 3% |
Low | 5.5 years | 14% |
Intermediate | 4 years | 33% |
High | 2.2 years | 54% |
What can mimic MDS?
MDS needs to be separated from numerous neoplastic and non-clonal hematologic disorders that can mimic MDS, including other myeloid neoplasms, nutritional deficiencies, toxin exposures, aplastic anemia, and inherited disorders (e.g., congenital sideroblastic anemia).
How do MDS patients die?
As the U.S. population continues to age, the number of people diagnosed with MDS each year is likely to increase. Death from MDS is often caused by bleeding and/or infection from low blood cell counts or after the disease becomes acute myeloid leukemia (AML). About a third of patients with MDS develop AML.
What is the best treatment for MDS?
Both azacitidine and decitabine are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat all types of MDS. However, these drugs are used most often for patients with higher IPSS-R scores. Both can be given in the doctor's office or clinic.
What are the common early signs of aplastic anemia?
Overall, the most common symptoms of aplastic anemia include:
- Significant fatigue or weakness.
- Bruising or bleeding easily.
- Shortness of breath.
- Recurring infections and/or flu-like symptoms.
- The appearance of small red dots on the skin that indicates bleeding under the skin.
- Headache.
- Fever due to infection.
Do you need chemo for aplastic anemia?
Other treatments
Aplastic anemia caused by radiation and chemotherapy treatments for cancer usually improves after those treatments stop. The same is true for most other drugs that induce aplastic anemia. Pregnant women with aplastic anemia are treated with blood transfusions.
Can you live with aplastic anemia?
Aplastic anemia is a life-threatening condition with very high death rates (about 70% within 1 year) if untreated. The overall five-year survival rate is about 80% for patients under age 20. In recent years, the long-term outcomes of aplastic anemia patients have been continuously improving.
How serious is myelodysplastic syndrome?
MDS is a severe, chronic syndrome from which very few people successfully recover. It often progresses to AML, which is a form of leukemia. Depending on which scoring system a doctor uses, life expectancy can change, according to the progression of MDS.
What is considered high risk MDS?
The newer WPSS classification system takes into account chromosomal abnormalities like IPSS, but includes two more factors—the WHO's own classification of MDS subtypes and whether the patient is dependent on red cell transfusions. In the WPSS, a score of three or above is considered higher-risk.
Is MDS curable?
MDS cannot be cured with chemotherapy. An allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) is the only potential cure for patients with MDS.