Onkológia 6/2014

Myelodysplastic syndrome – medicine made to measure

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) include a group of hematopoietic neoplasms characterized by ineffective haematopoiesis and dysplasia that manifest clinically as cytopenias and a variable tendency for leukemic progression. Because of the biological heterogeneity of the disease and the clinical manifestations are treatment outcomes of patients with MDS vary significantly. Therefore, the management paradigm for MDS typically follows a risk-adaptive strategy. Therapeutic plans strike a balance between the risks and benefits of treatment in an individual patient. („medicine made to measure”). This article summarizes the current approach in in the diagnosis and management of MDS.

Keywords: myelodysplastic syndrome, hypomethylating agents, erythropoiesis stimulating agents and epigenetics.