Myelodysplastic syndrome, or myelodysplasia, is a group of diseases characterized by progressive bone marrow insufficiency, which leads to the production of defective or immature cells that appear in the bloodstream, leading to anemia, excessive fatigue, tendency to infection and bleeding. which can lead to very serious complications.
Although it can occur at any age, this disease is more common in people over 70 years of age and, in most cases, its causes are not clarified, although in some cases it may result from treatment of a previous cancer with chemotherapy. , radiation therapy or exposure to chemicals, such as benzene or smoke, for example.
- Myelodysplasia can usually be cured with a bone marrow transplant.
- However.
- This is not possible for all patients and it is important to consult the family doctor or hematologist.
Bone marrow is an important place in the body that produces blood cells, such as red blood cells, which are red blood cells, white blood cells, which are the white blood cells that are responsible for defending the body and platelets, which are essential for blood clotting. Therefore, your disability produces signs and symptoms such as:
In the first cases, the person may not develop symptoms and the disease may eventually be discovered during routine checkups. In addition, the amount and intensity of symptoms will depend on the types of blood cells most affected by myelodysplasia and also on the severity of each case. Approximately 1/3 of myelodysplastic syndrome cases can develop into acute leukemia, which is a type of severe blood cell cancer. Learn more about acute myeloid leukemia.
Therefore, it is not possible to determine a life expectancy for these patients, because the disease can progress very slowly, for decades, because it can evolve into a serious form, with little response to treatment and lead to more complications in a few months. Years.
The cause of myelodysplastic syndrome is not very well established, however, in most cases, the disease has a genetic cause, but DNA modification is not always found and the disease is classified as primary myelodysplasia. Although it may have a genetic cause, the disease is not hereditary.
Myelodysplastic syndrome can also be classified as secondary when it occurs as a result of other situations, such as chemical poisonings such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, benzene, pesticides, tobacco, lead, or mercury, for example.
To confirm the diagnosis of myelodysplasia, the hematologist will perform the clinical assessment and order tests such as:
In this way, the hematologist will be able to detect the type of myelodysplasia, differentiate it from other diseases of the bone marrow and better determine the type of treatment.
The main form of treatment is bone marrow transplantation, which can lead to the cure of the disease. However, not all people are suitable for this procedure, which should be performed in people who do not suffer from diseases that limit their physical ability and preferably. under the age of 65.
Another treatment option includes chemotherapy, which is usually done with drugs such as azacitidine and decitine, for example, performed according to cycles determined by the hematologist.
In some cases, a blood transfusion may be necessary, especially in cases of severe anemia or lack of platelets that allow adequate blood clotting. See the directions and how the blood transfusion is performed.