Myelodysplastic Syndrome Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of blood disorders resulting from poor blood cell formation or blood cells not functioning properly. This condition can cause a person to experience a decrease in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Signs of myelodysplastic syndrome can vary, depending on the type of blood cell affected. Many people with myelodysplastic syndrome have no signs or symptoms or only have mild symptoms in the early stages.
Myelodysplastic Syndrome Symptom
In its early stages, myelodysplastic syndrome rarely has any specific signs or symptoms. Over time, some of the signs and symptoms that can arise in myelodysplastic syndromes are:
- Fatigue
- Hard to breathe
- Pale due to decreased red blood cells
- Easy bruising or bleeding as a result of a low platelet count
- Red dots under the skin caused by bleeding
- Recurrent infections due to low white blood cell count
Myelodysplastic Syndrome Reason
In a healthy person, the bone marrow is always ready to produce new and immature blood cells, which mature over time. The myelodysplastic syndrome occurs when there is a disturbance in this process that causes blood cells to not mature.
Instead of developing normally, these red blood cells generally die in the bone marrow or shortly after entering the bloodstream. Over time, there will be more immature cells and abnormalities compared to healthy cells.
This then leads to problems such as fatigue, which occurs due to a shortage of red blood cells; infection, which occurs as a result of a lack of white blood cells; or bleeding which occurs due to a lack of platelets.
Most myelodysplastic syndromes have no known cause. Others are caused by exposure to cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, exposure to harmful chemicals, such as tobacco and pesticides, or exposure to iron, such as lead.
Several factors that can increase the risk of developing myelodysplastic syndromes are:
- Older age. Most individuals with myelodysplastic syndrome are over 60 years of age.
- Treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy, both of which are used to treat cancer, can increase your risk of developing myelodysplastic syndromes.
- Exposure to certain chemicals. Chemicals that have been linked to myelodysplastic syndromes include cigarette smoke, pesticides and industrial chemicals.
- Iron exposure. The irons that have been linked to myelodysplastic syndromes are lead and mercury.
Diagnosis
Generally, the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome can be determined based on medical interviews, direct physical examination, and certain supporting examinations.
The doctor may order blood tests to determine the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and look for any abnormal changes in the size, shape, and appearance of these blood cells.
In addition, doctors can recommend two other types of examinations, namely bone marrow aspiration and bone marrow biopsy. During the procedure, a thin, hollow needle is inserted into the pelvis to take samples of bone marrow, blood and bone for further evaluation.
Myelodysplastic Syndrome Treatment
Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes often aims to slow the progression of the disease, control symptoms such as weakness, and prevent bleeding and infection. In those who have no signs and symptoms, doctors usually monitor them with routine laboratory tests to evaluate the progress of the disease.
Some of the treatment methods that can be done are:
- Blood transfusion. Blood transfusions may be performed to replace red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets in individuals with myelodysplastic syndromes.
- Treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes is generally through administering drugs to increase the number of blood cells produced by the body, drugs to stimulate the maturation of blood cells, and drugs to suppress the immune system.
- Bone marrow transplant. During a bone marrow transplant, the patient will be given high doses of chemotherapy drugs to remove damaged blood from the bone marrow. Then, the abnormal bone marrow is replaced with healthy cells that are donated.
Prevention
Because some of the causes of myelodysplastic syndrome are not known with certainty, there are no methods that have been proven effective in preventing this condition.