Myelodysplastic syndromes: preleukemic syndromes
Tassin, F.; Hermanne, J.P.; Schaaf-Lafontaine, N.; Herens, C.; Thiry, A.; Paulus, J.M.; Boniver, J.; Fillet, G.
Revue Medicale de Liege 53(6): 357-362
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0370-629X PMID: 9713217 Document Number: 484350
The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by peripheral blood cytopenias with a hypercellular bone marrow exhibiting dyspoiesis. The predominant in elderly patients are associated with a high risk of progression to acute myelogenous leukemia. The etiology of MDS is unknown in most cases. About 10% of MDSs are secondary. MDS are classified by the French American British (FAB) classification into five subgroups. The incidence of the disorders is difficult to estimate but it seems to be increasing. Clonal cytogenetic aberrations are found in 30 to 50% of de novo MDS. The only currative treatment for MDS is allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.