The MDS Beacon™

Results of a recent study show that myelodysplastic syndromes patients who are in poor health and therefore ineligible for clinical trials may benefit from treatment with Vidaza and Zolinza.

The study authors found that the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy were similar to those of other treatment regimens commonly tested in clinical trials.

They concluded that their findings support treatment for patients who are ineligible for clinical trials, and they suggested that current eligibility criteria for Phase 1/2…

A retrospective analysis indicates that treatment with Revlimid improved survival in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients with a deletion in chromo­some 5 who initially were transfusion dependent.

Dr. Andrea Kuendgen of the Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet in Duesseldorf, Germany, presented the findings at the 2011 American Society of Hema­tology (ASH) conference in San Diego last week.

Revlimid (lenalidomide) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Admin­istration as a treatment for the subgroup of lower-risk myelodys­plastic syndromes (MDS) patients who are dependent on blood transfusions…

In this edition of his quarterly column, Dr. Steensma answers the question, Where does the name myelodysplastic syndromes come from? The column will be published as a two-part series. In Part 1, Dr. Steensma described the history of the disease name. In Part 2 (below), he addresses the origins of the name.

So what is the etymology (word history) of “myelodysplastic syndromes?”

To begin with, “myelo-“ has as its origin the Greek word μυελός, meaning “marrow.”  Interestingly, there are…

Ellen O’Neill, a native of Bray on the eastern coast of Ireland, works in home help in addition to caring for her elderly father.

However, she herself became the patient in May 2005 when she was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) at the age of 50.

That May, O’Neill began having hot flashes, flu-like symptoms, and fatigue.  She attributed the symptoms to menopause and went to see her doctor in October 2005 for blood tests and to discuss starting hormone…

In this edition of his quarterly column for The MDS Beacon, Dr. Steensma answers the question, “Where does the name myelodysplastic syndromes come from?” The column will be published as a two-part series. In Part 1, Dr. Steensma describes the history of the disease name. In Part 2, he will address the origins of the name.

Although every English-speaking adult has heard the word “leukemia” and most people have at least some sense what sort of disease…