Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Target Population: Hematologists, oncologists

Background and Objective

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by cytopenias and an increased risk for leukemia. Treatment is usually determined by whether the patient is symptomatic, requires transfusion, or has a high percentage of blasts in the bone marrow. Now, an expert panel of the European LeukemiaNet has conducted a systematic review of the literature and formulated guidelines for treating MDS patients according to their risk for disease progression, based on the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS).

Key Recommendations for Treating Low-Risk Patients

Patients with asymptomatic cytopenias …