What is Myelodysplastic Syndrome: Causes, Types, Signs, Symptoms

Myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS is the disease which can occur due to the blood-cells which are not optimized for seamless functioning. The bone marrow malfunctions and produces dysfunctional blood cells. Myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS is one of the rarest diseases and can be treated with the help of bone marrow transplant. Generally, the focus of the physician is providing relief to the patients from the symptoms of myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS in an impeccable manner.

Many patients are confused about the category to which the myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS disease belongs. In fact, it is a type of cancer that occurs due to the mutation of the cells. The impact of the illness on one’s life is crucial than the terminology of the illness. The growth of the disease in myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS is slow and does not severely interfere with the patient’s life quality unlike some other types of cancer. The objective of the doctor is to make alleviate the symptoms and make the life style comfortable for the patients.

In general the disease of myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS is not found in children or it is rarely found in children. If a child is diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS, then the treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS is more or less similar to the treatments which are used for adults.

Myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS is caused when the blood cells behave abnormally and are marred by dysfunction. Patients affected with myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS have immature blood cells that die within their bone marrow area. Later on, the quantity of defective cells grow and they become more than the total number of healthy cells. People start suffering from anemia and excessive bleeding because of this. Myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS are classified into 2 different categories depending on the cause.

• Myelodysplastic Syndromes or MDS with no reason. They are referred to as de novo myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS and can be treated in an easier way than the other one.
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes or MDS reasoned by radiation and chemicals. Radiation and chemotherapy can cause the myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS. It might occur when you are being treated for other type of cancer. They are quite hard to treat and patients rarely recover from the symptoms.

WHO or World Health Organization has divided myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS into sub types. Myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS is categorized into sub types depending on the appearance of the blood cells. It may include red and white cells along with the platelets.

• Refractory cytopenia (along with unilineage dysplasia). In such type of myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS, certain blood cells show abnormal nature. They can be detected with the help of microscope.
• Refractory anemia (along with ringed sideroblasts). If the red blood cells count is low, people can suffer from this type of myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS. Iron content of the Red blood cells is on the higher side.
• Refractory cytopenia (along with multilineage dysplasia). If more than two blood cells show abnormal behaviors, the person can get affected with this type of myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS.
• Refractory anemia (along with excess blasts type 1 and excess blasts type 2). Patients suffering from this sub type of myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS disease face the shortage of either the red, white cells or the platelets. They show abnormality when seen under microscope in the form of immature cells.
• Myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS which is unclassified. In unclassified type of myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS, one type of the blood cells can appear abnormal when observed under a microscope
• Myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS identified with deserted del(5q) abnormal chromosome. Individuals face shortage of the red cells with a certain pattern of mutation in the DNA.

Myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS might manifest with the following symptoms in the later stage of the disease and myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS scarcely show any signs and symptoms in the initial stage.

• Excess Fatigue is a major symptom of myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS.
• Breathlessness.
• Pale appearance due to anemia.
• Excessive bleeding or unstoppable bleeding leading to good amount of blood loss is an indication of myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS
• Red spots appear beneath the skin.
• Frequent infections combined with excessive bleeding when wounded should be considered seriously as they are symptoms of myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS.

If you have any of the above mentioned signs and symptoms and they are causing you distress, contact the doctor for the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS.

Also Read:

• Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Staging, Risk Factors, Complications, Diagnosis
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes Treatments: Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Bone Marrow Transplant
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes or MDS: Treatment for Side Effects, Children with MDS
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Survival Rates, Prognosis, Recurrence, Remission, Lifestyle Changes, Prevention
• Coping with Myelodysplastic Syndromes & its Follow-Up Care