ABSTRACT

One of the hallmarks of the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is their heterogeneity, which is reflected not only by the variety of hematological manifestations, but also by the great differences in length of survival and incidence of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) between individual patients. Whereas some patients with MDS succumb to complications of bone marrow failure or AML development within a few months of diagnosis, others show a relatively stable course and may survive for many years. These marked differences in prognosis complicate therapeutic decisions.