ABSTRACT
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are acquired hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, cellular dysfunction, and an increased risk of transformation into acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Increased apoptosis of myeloid cells is the central mechanism of ineffective hematopoiesis that leads to peripheral blood cytopenias. These disorders typically occur in older persons, although the proportion of younger adults diagnosed as having MDS appears to be rising in recent years. It has been estimated that the overall incidence of MDS in the human population is about 2-4/100,000/year (1). Incidence rates of 20-30/100,000/year in people over 70 demonstrate that MDS are among the most common hematological malignancies in this age group.
