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Diseases

Myelodysplastic syndrome

OVERVIEW

  • Highlights & Basics
  • Images

DIAGNOSIS

  • Diagnostic Approach
  • Risk Factors
  • History & Exam
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis
  • Criteria
  • Screening

TREATMENT

  • Tx Approach
  • Tx Options
  • Emerging Tx
  • Prevention

FOLLOW-UP

  • Overview
  • Complications

REFERENCES

  • Citations
  • Guidelines
  • Credits

PATIENT RESOURCES

  • Patient Instructions

Highlights & Basics

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Key Highlights
  • Myelodysplastic syndrome or myelodysplastic neoplasm (MDS) is primarily a disease of older adults. It is often diagnosed incidentally in asymptomatic patients. Some patients present with symptoms of anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia.

  • Diagnosis is confirmed if blood and bone marrow evaluation reveals cytopenias, morphologic dysplasia, clonal cytogenetic abnormalities or molecular mutations, and blasts (classically <20%).

  • Supportive care is central to management and includes: red blood cell (RBC) transfusions with iron chelation support (for anemia); platelet transfusions (for thrombocytopenia and bleeding); and anti-infective therapy (e.g., antibiotics).

  • Treatment is guided by risk assessment, disease type/characteristics, symptoms/severity of cytopenias, and erythropoietin levels. Treatment includes drug therapy (e.g., lenalidomide, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, hypomethylating agents, luspatercept, imetelstat, immunosuppressive therapy [antithymocyte globulin], ivosidenib) and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (for select patients e.g., those with high-risk disease).

  • Patients may have a prolonged disease course (i.e., with anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia), or may progress rapidly to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Most deaths occur due to complications from MDS (e.g., infection) before progression to AML.

Quick Reference

  • History & Exam

    • Key Factors

      • Other Factors

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      • Diagnostics Tests

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        • Treatment Options

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          Definition

          Epidemiology

          Etiology

          Pathophysiology

          content by BMJ Group
          Last updated

          Images

          • Blood film showing normal neutrophil (right) and dysplastic neutrophil with agranular cytoplasm and

            Blood film showing normal neutrophil (right) and dysplastic neutrophil with agranular cytoplasm and hypolobated nucleus

          • Large mononuclear megakaryocyte in bone marrow of patient with MDS-del(5q)

            Large mononuclear megakaryocyte in bone marrow of patient with MDS-del(5q)

          Citations

            Key Articles

            • Killick SB, Wiseman DH, Quek L, et al. British Society for Haematology guidelines for the diagnosis and evaluation of prognosis of adult myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 2021 Jul;194(2):282-93.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • Killick SB, Ingram W, Culligan D, et al. British Society for Haematology guidelines for the management of adult myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 2021 Jul;194(2):267-81.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: myelodysplastic syndromes [internet publication].[Full Text]

            • Fenaux P, Haase D, Santini V, et al; ESMO Guidelines Committee. Myelodysplastic syndromes: ESMO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2021 Feb;32(2):142-56.[Abstract][Full Text]

            Other Online Resources

            • MDS Foundation: IPSS-M risk calculator

            Referenced Articles

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            • 30. Sun L, Babushok DV. Secondary myelodysplastic syndrome and leukemia in acquired aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Blood. 2020 Jul 2;136(1):36-49.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 31. Tong H, Hu C, Yin X, et al. A meta-analysis of the relationship between cigarette smoking and incidence of myelodysplastic syndromes. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e67537.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 32. Schnatter AR, Glass DC, Tang G, et al. Myelodysplastic syndrome and benzene exposure among petroleum workers: an international pooled analysis. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2012 Nov;104(22):1724-37.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 35. Sill H, Olipitz W, Zebisch A, et al. Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms: pathobiology and clinical characteristics. Br J Pharmacol. 2011 Feb;162(4):792-805.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 49. Hirsch CM, Przychodzen BP, Radivoyevitch T, et al. Molecular features of early onset adult myelodysplastic syndrome. Haematologica. 2017 Jun;102(6):1028-34.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 52. van de Loosdrecht AA, Kern W, Porwit A, et al. Clinical application of flow cytometry in patients with unexplained cytopenia and suspected myelodysplastic syndrome: a report of the European LeukemiaNet International MDS-Flow Cytometry Working Group. Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2023 Jan;104(1):77-86.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 53. ​American Society for Clinical Pathology. Thirty five things physicians and patients should question. Choosing Wisely, an initiative of the ABIM Foundation. 2021 [internet publication].[Full Text]

            • 54. de Witte T, Bowen D, Robin M, et al. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for MDS and CMML: recommendations from an international expert panel. Blood. 2017 Mar 30;129(13):1753-62.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 55. Wimazal F, Sperr WR, Kundi M, et al. Prognostic value of lactate dehydrogenase activity in myelodysplastic syndromes. Leuk Res. 2001 Apr;25(4):287-94.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 56. Germing U, Hildebrandt B, Pfeilstöcker M, et al. Refinement of the international prognostic scoring system (IPSS) by including LDH as an additional prognostic variable to improve risk assessment in patients with primary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Leukemia. 2005 Dec;19(12):2223-31.[Abstract]

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            • 67. Tentori CA, Gregorio C, Robin M, et al. Clinical and genomic-based decision support system to define the optimal timing of allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. J Clin Oncol. 2024 Aug 20;42(24):2873-86.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 69. Wu H, Li S, Yang J, et al. IPSS-M outperforms IPSS-R in prognostic stratification and guides effective interventions for very high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Discov Oncol. 2025 Jul 11;16(1):1315.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 78. Toma A, Kosmider O, Chevret S, et al. Lenalidomide with or without erythropoietin in transfusion-dependent erythropoiesis-stimulating agent-refractory lower-risk MDS without 5q deletion. Leukemia. 2016 Apr;30(4):897-905.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 79. Stahl M, DeVeaux M, de Witte T, et al. The use of immunosuppressive therapy in MDS: clinical outcomes and their predictors in a large international patient cohort. Blood Adv. 2018 Jul;2(14):1765-72.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 80. Sloand EM, Wu CO, Greenberg P, et al. Factors affecting response and survival in patients with myelodysplasia treated with immunosuppressive therapy. J Clin Oncol. 2008 May;26(15):2505-11.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 81. Saunthararajah Y, Nakamura R, Wesley R, et al. A simple method to predict response to immunosuppressive therapy in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. Blood. 2003 Oct;102(8):3025-7.[Abstract][Full Text]

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            • 86. Cutler CS, Lee SJ, Greenberg P, et al. A decision analysis of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for the myelodysplastic syndromes: delayed transplantation for low-risk myelodysplasia is associated with improved outcome. Blood. 2004 Jul 15;104(2):579-85.[Abstract]

            • 87. Oliansky DM, Antin JH, Bennett JM, et al. The role of cytotoxic therapy with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the therapy of myelodysplastic syndromes: an evidence-based review. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2009 Feb;15(2):137-72.[Abstract]

            • 88. Fenaux P, Giagounidis A, Selleslag D, et al. A randomized phase 3 study of lenalidomide versus placebo in RBC transfusion-dependent patients with Low-/Intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes with del5q. Blood. 2011 Oct 6;118(14):3765-76.[Abstract]

            • 89. Fenaux P, Mufti GJ, Hellstrom-Lindberg E, et al. Efficacy of azacitidine compared with that of conventional care regimens in the treatment of higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes: a randomised, open-label, phase III study. Lancet Oncol. 2009 Mar;10(3):223-32.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 90. Zeidan AM, Davidoff AJ, Long JB, et al. Comparative clinical effectiveness of azacitidine versus decitabine in older patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 2016 Dec;175(5):829-40.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 91. ​Garcia‑Manero G, Platzbecker U, Fenaux P, et al. MDS‑1497: primary analysis of the randomized, Phase 3 VERONA study of venetoclax with azacitidine vs placebo with azacitidine in patients with treatment‑naïve, intermediate and higher‑risk myelodysplastic syndromes. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2025 Sep;25(Suppl 1):S644-5.

            • 92. Cortes JE, Yang J, Roboz GJ, et al. Olutasidenib alone or combined with azacitidine in patients with mutant IDH1 myelodysplastic syndrome. Blood Adv. 2025 Jul 16:bloodadvances.2025016718.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 93. Sebert M, Chevret S, Dimicoli‑Salazar S, et al. Enasidenib (ENA) monotherapy in patients with IDH2‑mutated myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), the Ideal Phase 2 Study by the GFM and Emsco Groups. Blood. 2024 Nov 5;144(Suppl 1):1839.​[Full Text]

            • 94. Lee S, Mohan S, Knupp J, et al. Oral eltanexor treatment of patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome refractory to hypomethylating agents. J Hematol Oncol. 2022 Aug;15(1):103.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 95. Moreno Berggren D, Garelius H, Willner Hjelm P, et al. Therapy-related MDS dissected based on primary disease and treatment-a nationwide perspective. Leukemia. 2023 May;37(5):1103-12.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 96. Greenberg P, Cox C, LeBeau MM, et al. International scoring system for evaluating prognosis in myelodysplastic syndromes. Blood. 1997 Mar 15;89(6):2079-88.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 97. Haider M, Duncavage EJ, Afaneh KF, et al. New insight into the biology, risk stratification, and targeted treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2018 Oct 29;37:480-94.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 98. Bejar R, Stevenson K, Abdel-Wahab O, et al. Clinical effect of point mutations in myelodysplastic syndromes. N Engl J Med. 2011 Jun 30;364(26):2496-506.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 99. Schiffer CA, Bohlke K, Delaney M, et al. Platelet transfusion for patients with cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline update. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Jan;36(3):283-99.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 100. Jensen PD, Heickendorff L, Pedersen B, et al. The effect of iron chelation on haemopoiesis in MDS patients with transfusional iron overload. Br J Haematol. 1996 Aug;94(2):288-99.[Abstract]

            • 101. Angelucci E, Li J, Greenberg P, et al. Iron chelation in transfusion-dependent patients with low- to intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2020 Apr;172(8):513-22.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 102. Arber DA, Orazi A, Hasserjian R, et al. The 2016 revision to the World Health Organization classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemia. Blood. 2016 May 19;127(20):2391-405.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 103. Radsak M, Platzbecker U, Schmidt CS, et al. Infectious complications in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: a review of the literature with emphasis on patients treated with 5-azacitidine. Eur J Haematol. 2017 Aug;99(2):112-8.[Abstract][Full Text]

            • 104. Mikulska M, Cesaro S, de Lavallade H, et al; European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia group. Vaccination of patients with haematological malignancies who did not have transplantations: guidelines from the 2017 European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL 7). Lancet Infect Dis. 2019 Jun;19(6):e188-99.[Abstract]

            • 105. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ACIP vaccine recommendations and guidelines: vaccine-specific recommendations. Jul 2024 [internet publication].​[Full Text]

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