Via practica 3-4/2014

Management of anemia in patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Anaemia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), principally through increased cardiovascular disease. The World Health Organization defines anemia as hemoglobin levels < 130 g/L for men and < 120 g/L for women. Up to 90 % of MDS patients are anemic at the time of presentation, and approximately 60 % have severe anemia (hemoglobin levels < 80 g/L). Conventional treatment for anemia is often ineffective and therefore over 40 % of MDS patients require regular red blood cell transfusions. Anaemia is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease outcomes in patients with MDS, beyond transfusion status and the International Revised Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R). In this article we will look at modern management of anaemia in patients with MDS, which improves patient quality of life and prolongs overall survival.

Keywords: myelodysplastic syndrome, anaemia, chelation therapy, treatment with growth factors.