What are the symptoms of myelodysplastic syndromes (mds)?

It varies: There may be none or the patient may feel tired from anemia, show signs of bruising from low platelets or infections from low white blood counts.

Variable: The disease may be asymptomatic and can be diagnosed because of abnormal blood tests. Or there can be symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, bleeding, easy bruising and increased infections.

Bone marrow: The only way to diagnose a myelodysplastic syndrome completely an accurately including prognostic factors is by performing a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration with subsequent multi-pronged assessment: morphology, flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and molecular studies. Some changes in the peripheral blood may suggest mds but a complete diagnosis still relies on bone marrow examination.

MDS: is sometimes called Refractory Anemia because it causes anemia (low red blood cells) that doesn't get better with iron and vitamin replacement. Anemia makes the skin look pale and causes shortness of breath with exercise, because RBC carry oxygen. MDS may also cause low white blood cells (WBC) which increases the risk infections; and low low blood platelets which causes easy bruising or bleeding.