Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) describes disorders in which the bone marrow does not make enough blood cells. Instead of mature red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets developing from stem cells in the marrow, the stem cells stay in an immature state. Common MDS symptoms may include frequent infections due to decreased white blood cells or anemia resulting from a decrease in red blood cells.
Chemotherapy Medications
Medicines often employed to treat MDS include anti-cancer drugs like azacitidine, also called Mylosar or Vidaza. Decitabine, also called Decogen, is another MDS chemotherapy drug.
Supportive Care Therapies
Supportive care therapies include a blood transfusion using growth factors like erythropoietin to increase the number of red blood cells. Antibiotics are used for infections resulting from low levels of white blood cells. Other treatments include high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplants.
More on Growth Factors
In order for the erythropoietin, or EPO, to work better G-CSF, or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, may be administered along with the EPO. Darbepoetin is another MDS drug used for anemia.
Other Therapies
Clinical trials using low-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplants, growth factor therapy, or new anti-cancer therapies may be used to treat the various forms of MDS.
Other Treaments
Lenalidomide helps modulate the immune system, among other functions. Other MDS drugs include Accutane, arsenic trioxide and topotecan.
Tags: blood cells, white blood, white blood cells, also called, cell transplants, chemotherapy with, chemotherapy with stem