Interní Med. 2005; 7(2): 65-69

Myelodysplastic syndromes from the point of view of general internal medicine

MUDr. Filip Málek

Kardiocentrum FN Královské Vinohrady, III. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy, Praha

This topical review article gives up-to-date information on definition, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestation and management of this relatively rare syndrome. Therapy of specific types of myelodyplastic syndromes still belongs to the specialists – haematologists. General practitioners and physicians should know the basic current knowledge about this disease. First of all, it is differential diagnosis of cytopenias. It is necessary to think about this rare syndrome in patients with anemias and cytopenias of unclear cause. There is also growing population of patients with secondary therapy – induced myelodysplastic syndrome, thanks to increasing number of subjects undergoing modern oncological therapy and reaching more advanced age. Secondly, because of increasing mean age and polymorbidity, these patients will require in addition to specific therapy, medical care provided by general practitioners and physicians.

Keywords: Key words: myelodysplastic syndrome, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, prognostic stratification, therapy.

Published: January 1, 2006  Show citation