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Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Myelodysplastic Syndromesis not the name you expected.

Synonyms

Myelodysplasia
Pre-leukemia

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a rare group of blood disorders that occur as a result of improper development of blood cells within the bone marrow. The three main types of blood cells (i.e., red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets) are affected. Red blood cells deliver oxygen to the body, white blood cells help fight infections, and platelets assist in clotting to stop blood loss. These improperly developed blood cells fail to develop normally and enter the bloodstream. As a result, individuals with MDS have abnormally low blood cell levels (low blood counts). General symptoms associated with MDS include fatigue, dizziness, weakness, bruising and bleeding, frequent infections, and headaches. In some cases, MDS may progress to life-threatening failure of the bone marrow or develop into an acute leukemia. The exact cause of MDS is unknown. There are no certain environmental risk factors.

Resources

Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 310
Churchton
MD
20733
USA
Tel: (410)867-0242
Fax: (410)867-0240
800: (800)747-2820
info@aamds.org
http://www.aamds.org

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
1311 Mamaroneck Ave
3rd Floor
White Plains
NY
10605
Tel: (914)949-5213
Fax: (914)949-6691
800: (800)955-4572
infocenter@LLS.org
http://www.LLS.org

American Cancer Society, Inc.
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta
GA
30329
USA
Tel: (404)320-3333
800: (800)227-2345
http://www.cancer.org

NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda
MD
20824-0105
Tel: (301)592-8573
Fax: (301)251-1223
nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.govNational Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Blvd, MSC 8322, Room 3036A
Bethesda
MD
20892-8322
USA
Tel: (301)435-3848
800: (800)422-6237
TDD: (800)332-8615
http://www.cancer.gov

World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Americas (AMRO)
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
525 23rd Street NW
Washington
DC
20037
Tel: (202)974-3000
Fax: (202)974-3663
postmaster@paho.org
http://www.who.ch/

National Bone Marrow Transplant Link
20411 W. 12 Mile Rd
Suite 108
Southfield
MI
48076
Tel: (248)358-1886
Fax: (248)358-1889
800: (800)546-5268
info@nbmtlink.org
http://www.nbmtlink.org

Aplastic Anemia & Myelodysplasia Association of Canada
11181 Yonge Street,Suite 321
Richmond Hill
Ontario
Intl
L4S 1L2
Canada
Tel: 9057800698
Fax: 8888400039
info@aamac.ca
http://www.aamac.ca

National Marrow Donor Program
3001 Broadway St. NE
Suite 500
Minneapolis
MN
55413-1753
USA
Tel: (612)627-5800
Fax: (612)627-8125
800: (800)627-7692
http://www.marrow.org

Myeloproliferative Mailing List (MPD-SUPPORT-L)
3706 North Roosevelt Blvd.
Key West
FL
44030
USA
Tel: (305)295-4444
Fax: (305)295-3335
lov2laf@bellsouth.net
http://www.mpdsupport.org

MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay
WI
54301-1243
USA
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
800: (877)336-5333
mums@netnet.net
http://www.netnet.net/mums/

Anemia Institute for Research and Education
151 Bloor Street West
Suite 600
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 1S4
Canada
Tel: 416-969-7431
Fax: 416-969-7420
800: 877-992-6364
info@anemiainstitute.org
http://www.anemiainstitute.org

Patient Registries at Slone: Myeloma & MDS
Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University
1010 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston
MA
02215
Tel: (617)734-6006
Fax: (617)738-5119
800: (800)231-3769
registry@slone.bu.edu
http://www.bu.edu/prs

Friends of Cancer Research
2231 Crystal Drive
Suite 200
Arlington
VA
22202
Tel: (703)302-1503
Fax: (703)302-1568
info@focr.org
http://www.focr.org

UCSF Hemophilia Treatment Center
400 Parnassus Ave.
First Floor
San Francisco
CA
94143
Tel: (415)353-2986
Fax: (415)353-2600
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/medical_services/blood/hemophilia/index.html

Cancer.Net
American Society of Clinical Oncology
2318 Mill Road
Suite 800
Alexandria
VA
22314
Tel: (571)483-1780
Fax: (571)366-9537
800: (888)651-3038
contactus@cancer.net
http://www.cancer.net/patient

Myeloproliferative Disease Support and Free Daily Email Digest
2011 Flagler Ave.
Key West
FL
33040
USA
Tel: (305)295-4444
roberttollen@gmail.com or mensabrain@aol.com
http://www.MPDSUPPORT.ORG

For a Complete Report:

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 1/22/2009
Copyright 2004, 2005, 2006 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

WebMD Medical Reference from the National Organization of Rare Disorders

Last Updated: January 22, 2009

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.