Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Signs and Symptoms

In myelodysplastic syndromes, the bone marrow is heavily infiltrated with MDS cells, which do a poor job of producing mature blood cells. Signs and symptoms include:

• Low red blood cells counts, causing fatigue and shortness of breath
• Abnormal white blood cells called neutrophils, which kill germs poorly, resulting in infection with bacteria, fungi or atypical mycobacteria (relatives of tuberculosis)
• Low platelet counts, causing bleeding

The typical MDS patient is 60 to 80 years old with mild to modest anemia — low levels of red blood cells — in which iron, vitamin and endocrine gland deficiencies have been ruled out as a cause. The anemia usually progresses and reaches a point where the patient needs red blood cell transfusions.