The MDS Beacon™

Research published in the October issue of Bone Marrow Transplantation validates the use of a new grouping scheme based on cytogenetics of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients undergoing stem cell transplants.

Cytogenetics refers to the study of parts of the cell associated with heredity, specifically the chromosomes.

Current patient grouping schemes like the International Prognostic Scoring System are based on cytogenetics. A patient is placed in a certain group based on their chromosome abnormalities. Members of…

Scientists have found that the prognosis of a subset of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients may be affected by activation of the gene RPS14. Low levels of activation of this gene were linked to prolonged survival in patients with intermediate-1 risk MDS and without deletion 5q syndrome. The scientists at Heinrich-Heine-University in Dusseldorf, Germany published their findings in the journal Haematologica.

Patients missing part of chromosome 5, which is known as deletion 5q syndrome, have a better prognosis than most other…

It started as a stomach ache. What followed was 2.5 years of multiple doctor visits, scans, blood work, confusion, misdiagnosis, and a search for answers that seemed to lead only to more questions.

First doctors thought it was a virus, then liver, spleen, or appendix problems, then a low platelet count, known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Finally, in March 2009, Mitch Kaplan was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

Living in Bergen County, New Jersey, Kaplan played Mr. Mom for…

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center published study results in Transfusion indicating that certain myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients who require repeated red blood cell transfusions may benefit from a treatment called iron chelation therapy (ICT).

ICT is used to remove excess iron that accumulates in the blood with multiple transfusions. Patients treated with ICT in this study had a median survival time of 9 years compared to 5 years for untreated patients.

The results in the study are…