Decitabine in myeloid malignancies

Myelodysplastic syndromes Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of bone marrow disorders that mainly occur in the elderly and are characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis resulting in anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia,1 MDS can occur spontaneously (primary or de novo) or can occur as a result from exposure to chemotherapy or chemicals including benzene and others (secondary).1,2,3 MDS is seen in approximately 5 per 100,000 people.4 Risk factors for MDS include age, previous chemotherapy, and exposure to environmental toxins, tobacco and gender (male).5 Approximately half of MDS patients are asymptomatic at the time of initial diagnosis and are diagnosed only after routine laboratory tests showing peripheral blood abnormalities. 1 Although MDS can eventually result in neutropenia and/or thrombocytopenia, anemia is the most common characteristic at the time of initial diagnosis.