Myelodysplastic anemia is a symptom of myelodysplastic syndrome, affecting the production of blood cells in the bone marrow. It can cause anemia, bleeding, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Treatment involves managing symptoms with medication and hormones, and bone marrow transplants in severe cases. The cause is unknown, but chemotherapy, radiation, toxins, and genetics may contribute. Diagnosis involves blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy. There is no cure, but treatment can improve quality of life.
Myelodysplastic anemia is the most prominent feature of a more extensive disease of the bone marrow called myelodysplastic syndrome. The disease affects the way bone marrow stem cells make and release new blood cells. Anemia is most closely related to abnormal platelet production. Immature platelets do not fully develop before entering the bloodstream, making them unable to clot. Patients who have myelodysplastic anemia typically need to take medications and hormones to prevent excessive bleeding and fight symptoms of fatigue and shortness of breath. Bone marrow transplants are needed in severe cases to avoid life-threatening complications.
The bone marrow produces stem cells that promote the development of platelets and red and white blood cells. In the case of myelodysplastic syndrome, blood cells die before reaching maturity or function improperly when they reach the bloodstream. As a result, there isn’t enough room for healthy blood cells to thrive. Many cases of myelodysplastic anemia have no clear cause, but doctors believe that chemotherapy, radiation, environmental toxins, and genetic factors can all contribute to malfunctioning bone marrow. The mean age of symptom onset is 70 years, although incidences have been reported in patients of all ages.
The most common symptoms of myelodysplastic anemia are pale skin, easy bruising, and excessive bleeding from seemingly minor wounds. Women of reproductive age may have particularly long or heavy bleeding during menstrual periods. Due to an inadequate blood supply, people often tire easily and have chronic breathing difficulties. Additional health problems such as frequent infections and chronic pain can arise due to low white blood cell count. Finally, an untreated case of myelodysplastic anemia increases the likelihood of developing leukemia.
People showing signs of anemia and are chronically ill should be evaluated by their doctors. A doctor may perform a physical exam, ask about symptoms, and collect a blood sample for lab testing. A complete blood count is done and analyzed to check for an unusually low number of healthy platelets. If blood tests are suspicious, a bone marrow biopsy may be needed to confirm myelodysplastic anemia.
Because there is no reliable cure for myelodysplastic anemia, treatment is usually aimed at managing symptoms. Synthetic growth factor hormones can be given to increase the overall number of blood cells produced within the bones. Additional medications are also given to fight infection, thicken the blood, and stabilize the heart rate. Patients who have dangerously low platelet counts despite taking medications may be scheduled for bone marrow transplants to replace dysfunctional stem cells. The outlook for patients after surgery varies, but many people see big improvements in their symptoms and quality of life.
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