Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)Symptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
Myelodysplastic syndrome is a group of disorders in which the blood cells produced in the bone marrow do not mature into healthy cells. This leaves you with fewer healthy blood cells in your body. The blood cells that have matured may not function properly.
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a form of cancer. In about a third of people, MDS may develop into acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Myeloid malignancy; Myelodysplastic syndrome; MDS; Preleukemia; Smoldering leukemia; Refractory anemia; Refractory cytopenia
Stem cells in bone marrow form different types of blood cells. With MDS, the DNA in stem cells becomes damaged. Because the DNA is damaged, the stem cells cannot produce healthy blood cells.
The exact cause of MDS is not known. For most cases, there is no known cause.
Risk factors for MDS include:
- Certain genetic conditions
- Exposure to environmental or industrial chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, solvents, or heavy metals
- Smoking
Prior cancer treatment increases the risk for MDS. This is called secondary or treatment-related MDS.
- Certain chemotherapy medicines increase the chance of developing MDS. This is a major risk factor.
- Radiation therapy, when used with chemotherapy, increases the risk for MDS even more.
- People who have stem cell transplants may develop MDS because they also receive high doses of chemotherapy.
MDS usually occurs in adults age 60 years and older. It is more common in men.
Early stage MDS often has no symptoms. MDS is often discovered during other blood tests.
People with very low blood counts often experience symptoms. Symptoms depend on the type of blood cell affected, and they include:
- Weakness or tiredness due to anemia
- Shortness of breath
- Easy bruising and bleeding
- Small red or purple pinpoint dots under the skin caused by bleeding
- Frequent infections and fever
Your treatment will depend on several factors:
- Whether you are low-risk or high-risk
- The type of MDS you have
- Your age, health, and other conditions you may have, such as diabetes or heart disease
The goal of MDS treatment is to prevent leukemia from developing and to prevent problems due to a shortage of blood cells, infections and bleeding. It may consist of:
- Blood transfusion.
- Medicines that promote the production of blood cells.
- Medicines that suppress the immune system.
- Low-dose chemotherapy to improve blood cell counts.
- Stem cell transplantation from another person. This is the only potential cure for many types of MDS.
Your provider may try one or more treatments to see what your MDS responds to.
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dr. DeZern is a Professor of Oncology and Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is active in the Division of Hematology Malignancies, Leukemia Program at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Dr. DeZern has expertise in aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, acute myeloid leukemia, and bone marrow transplantation. Dr. DeZern received her medical degree at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She completed a residency in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins, followed by fellowships in medical oncology and hematology, as well as obtained a Masters in Clinical Investigations at the Bloomberg School of Public health. Dr. DeZern is a member of the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Dr. DeZern’s principle research activities consist of designing and conducting clinical trials that test investigational new therapies and approaches in the treatment of bone marrow failure (aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes). She has specific expertise in the use of alternative donor bone marrow transplantation in patients with severe aplastic anemia and trials of novel therapeutics for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Additionally, she has taken a rigorous approach to the study of diagnostics and supportive case (such as transfusion practices) in these patient populations. She is or has been the Principal Investigator for a number of multicenter trials in collaboration with the MDS Clinical Research Consortium, the Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group (ECOG)-ACRIN and now the Bone Marrow Trials Clinical Trials Network (BMTCTN). She is the Study Chair for the multi-site BMTCTN study (CHAMP) investigating the role of haploidentical donor transplantation using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide in patients with relapsed several aplastic anemia. Dr. DeZern is the local PI as well as the Deputy Chair for The National MDS Study, a collaborative natural history study of the NHLBI and the NCI. As a clinical investigator with a focus on translation of novel treatments to the clinic, Dr. DeZern’s goal is to improve outcomes for patients with bone marrow failure at the bedside and in her research environment. Dr. Dezern is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). Her top areas of expertise are Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML), Bone Marrow Transplant, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Adult Leukemia Program
Richard Stone is a Hematologist Oncology specialist and a Hematologist in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Stone is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). His top areas of expertise are Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), Bone Marrow Aspiration, and Bone Marrow Transplant.
Montefiore Medical Center
Marina Konopleva, MD, Phd, is Professor, Oncology, Professor, Molecular Pharmacology, Director, Leukemia Program and Co-Director, Blood Cancer Institute, at Montefiore Einstein. Her clinic focus centers on treating patients with hematologic malignancies, with an emphasis on acute myeloid and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She has additional expertise in treating patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic myeloid leukemia. Dr. Konopleva is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). Her top areas of expertise are Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), Bone Marrow Aspiration, and Bone Marrow Transplant.
The outlook will depend on your type of MDS, genetics of the abnormal cells, and severity of symptoms. Your overall health also may affect your chances of recovery. Many people have stable MDS that does not progress into cancer for years, if ever.
Some people with MDS may develop AML.
MDS complications include:
- Bleeding
- Infections such as pneumonia, gastrointestinal infections, urinary infections
- AML
Contact your provider if you:
- Feel weak and tired most of the time
- Bruise or bleed easily, have bleeding of the gums or frequent nosebleeds
- You notice red or purple spots of bleeding under the skin
Summary: This phase II MyeloMATCH treatment trial compares the usual treatment of cedazuridine-decitabine (ASTX727) to the combination treatment of ASTX727 and enasidenib in treating patients with higher-risk, IDH2-mutated myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). ASTX727 is a combination of two drugs, decitabine and cedazuridine. Cedazuridine is in a class of medications called cytidine deaminase inhibitors. It pre...
Summary: Evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of ICP-248 in combination with azacitidine in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes.
Published Date: October 21, 2025
Published By: Warren Brenner, MD, Oncologist, Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
National Cancer Institute website. Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/myeloproliferative/hp/mds-mpd-treatment-pdq. Updated May 14, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025.
Stone RM. Myelodysplastic syndromes. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 167.
Yabe M, Hasserjian RP. Myelodysplastic syndromes. In: Hsi ED, Wang SA, ed. Hematopathology: Foundations in Diagnostic Pathology. 4th ed. Philadelphia PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 19.