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Myelodysplastic syndromes

Syndroma myelodysplasticum · Myelodysplastický syndrom

What it is

The marrow makes too few, faulty blood cells; mostly after 70 or after chemotherapy, and it can turn into leukaemia.

Symptoms & signs

  • Tiredness and breathlessness (anaemia)
  • frequent infections
  • easy bruising and bleeding
  • often found on a routine blood count

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Fever over 38 °C
  • call 112 / 911 now Bleeding that will not stop
  • see a doctor soon Bruises or tiny red spots appearing without reason
  • see a doctor soon Growing paleness, tiredness and breathlessness

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Blood transfusions and iron chelation
  • erythropoietin
  • luspatercept
  • azacitidine
  • stem-cell transplant — the only cure
  • imetelstat (Rytelo), a telomerase inhibitor for transfusion-dependent lower-risk MDS — FDA-approved 2024
  • ivosidenib (IDH1 inhibitor) for relapsed IDH1-mutated MDS — FDA-approved 2023

Natural & lifestyle

  • Infection precautions
  • good nutrition with folate and B12
  • stay active within limits

Emerging & experimental

  • Venetoclax combinations

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Green tea (EGCG) — lab studies against leukaemia cells early / small studies
  • Vitamins K2 and D — small Japanese studies in MDS early / small studies
  • 'Blood-building' herbs (dong quai, nettle) — anecdotal; iron-rich herbs harm people on transfusions anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes