Leukemia

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Treatment

Treatments include blood cell transfusions, chemotherapy, biological therapy and bone marrow transplants.

Blood Cell Transfusions

Often, the main treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes is a transfusion of red blood cells or platelets, administered intravenously by a needle in a vein, to control anemia or bleeding. Vitamins or other drugs also may be given to treat anemia.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the most well studied treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes. It is being improved in ongoing clinical trials at UCSF Medical Center and other major medical centers. Chemotherapy uses drugs to treat disease and may be taken by pill or it may be put into the body by a needle in the vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body and affects cells throughout the body. Because it affects cells throughout the body, chemotherapy has side effects that you should discuss with your child's doctor.

Biological Therapy

Biological therapy is a newer type of treatment that also is being tested in clinical trials for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes. Biological therapy tries to help the body fight disease. It uses materials made by the body or made in a laboratory to boost, direct or restore the body's natural defenses against disease. Biological therapy is sometimes called biological response modifier (BRM) therapy or immunotherapy. Because this therapy involves the body's defense mechanisms, treatments may have some side effects.

Bone Marrow Transplants

Bone marrow transplant (BMT) is another new type of treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes. It uses high doses of chemotherapy and sometimes radiation therapy, involving high doses of X-rays or other high-energy rays, to destroy all bone marrow in the body. After the existing bone marrow is destroyed, healthy bone marrow from a donor is transplanted back into your child. Healthy marrow comes from a donor whose tissue is the same or almost the same as your child's. The donor may be a twin, who would be the best match; a brother, sister or other relative; or an unrelated person. The healthy marrow is given to your child intravenously through a needle in the vein. A transplant using marrow from a relative or unrelated person is called an allogeneic bone marrow transplant.

Another type of bone marrow transplant -- called autologous bone marrow - uses a child's own bone marrow. But that treatment has not been found effective in treating myelodysplastic syndromes.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007