[Myelodysplastic syndromes]

Ineffective hematopoiesis in MDS and evolution of acute leukemia in these patients are serious consequences of a neoplastic transformation at the stem cell level. The development of one or more cell clones is associated with morphological, cytogenetical and immunological aberrations and with changes in the normal stem cell pattern. For young people with MDS having an HLA identical donor bone marrow transplantation as the only curative approach so far is the treatment of choice. Younger people (less than 50 years) have a good chance to achieve complete remission by aggressive chemotherapy. In the majority of older people suffering from MDS treatment will be restricted to supportive measures. Recombinant hematopoietic growth factors can improve cytopenia in MDS.