Myelodysplastic Syndrome Diagnosis & Treatment in NJ, CT, and MD

There are many types of myelodysplastic syndromes. To identify which one may be present, physicians typically examine the shape and makeup of blood cells under a microscope. Types of myelodysplastic syndromes include:

• Myelodysplastic syndrome with single-lineage dysplasia: This condition is diagnosed when patients have issues with one specific type of blood cell – red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. It can cause low or unusual levels of one type of blood cell. In rare cases, patients may develop acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
• Myelodysplastic syndrome with multilineage dysplasia: This is when two or three types of blood cells (red cells, white cells, or platelets) have unusual properties. This is the most common form of myelodysplastic syndrome.
• Myelodysplastic syndrome with ring sideroblasts: In this form of the disease, there are low levels of one or many types of blood cells. Many patients with this disease collect added iron in their red blood cells. This is a rare form of myelodysplastic syndrome.
• Myelodysplastic syndrome with isolated del: This form typically results in low red blood cell levels. However, patients can also have low white blood cell and platelet levels. In addition, this syndrome can genetically modify cells by eliminating essential chromosomes.
• Myelodysplastic syndrome with excess blasts: This includes any condition that causes red blood cell, white blood cell, or platelet levels to decrease. The bone marrow and blood can harbor abundant immature blood cells (called blasts). Patients with this disease may also have bone marrow dysplasia, and it can potentially cause AML.