Myelodysplastic syndroms: epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment

Myelodysplastic syndroms are heterogeneous myeloid disorders caracterized by cytopenias associated with an ineffectiv hematopoiesis and a variable pourcentage of blasts. These are hematologic diseases that frequently affect older adults. The main risk of MDS is evolution into acute myeloid leukemia. Recent advancements in flow cytometry and molecular biology are henceforth useful to better define prognosis and therapeutic decision. During the last ten years, new therapeutic findings (identification of potential cellular and molecular targets) and reduced-intensity conditioning therapy in allogeneic stem cell transplantation improved the prognosis of patients with myelodysplastic syndroms.