Restrictive Versus Liberal Transfusion Strategies in Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Beyond

Anemia is the most common cytopenia seen in the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The majority of patients with MDS will require red blood cell (RBC) transfusions during the course of their disease. However, unlike many other disease groups, there is no consensus on the optimal strategy for RBC transfusion in this patient population. In this article, we review the data supporting the use of restrictive transfusion strategies in multiple patient populations and discuss the current literature regarding transfusion management in patients with MDS.