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This blog aims to throw light on MDS, a clinical condition that affect blood cell lines. It can be fatal if care is not taken. Let's delve into it right away.

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MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROMES

Myelodysplastic syndrome is a group of closely related haemopoietic (blood) stem cell disorders which are characterised by bone marrow failure and dysplastic (impaired growth) changes in the different types of blood cells.

There's a simultaneous proliferation of blood cells and apoptosis (cell death) in MDS. Bone marrow of patients tend to be hypercellular but pancytopenia is observed in a peripheral blood analysis.

Symptoms associated with MDS comes from underlying conditions such as anaemia (dyspnea, headache, fatigue,etc.), thrombocytopenia (blood clotting issues), and neutropenia.

CAUSES OF MDS

MDS can be secondary to cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiation intended to treat a previously existing cancer - therapy-related MDS but the primary causes of MDS remains unknown.

From studies and physical examinations, MDS is associated with the elderly (those in the median age -65years but not less than 50years). Children and younger adults can be MDS patients but their case is usually secondary to cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiations intended to treat a cancer.

MORPHOLOGIC FEATURES OF THE VARIOUS CELL LINES

Mostly MDS is charaterised by cytopenia but in cases where the MDS is being transformed into AML (acute myelogenous leukemia), leucocytosis appear.

Note that dysplastic haemopoiesis is not confined to MDS. MDS shares common features with patients exposed to cytotoxic drugs, HIV, radiations and megaloblastic anaemia. Therefore, the diagnosis of MDS requires the recognition of features which are specific to MDS and no other disease.

Exclusive features of MDS

• Presence of Pelger-Huët anomaly: Neutrophils with a bilobed nucleus in blood film examination.
• Presence of micromegakaryoctes
• Agranular neutrophils are also highly specific to MDS but are present in smaller proportion.