Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of malignant disorders characterised by "dysplastic" (ineffective) blood cell production, which progresses onto bone marrow failure.
There is a quantitative and qualitative abnormality of all white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. A significant proportion transform to acute myeloid leukaemia. The majority of cases are diagnosed in the elderly with less than 10% presenting under the age of 50. As a result, the number of patients recommended for a bone marrow transplant is small.
Included in the category of myeloproliferative disorders is myelofibrosis. This is where there is an increase in bone marrow fibroblasts, the cells which produce collagen fibres. As a result, the bone marrow cavity becomes obliterated by fibrous tissue, resulting in bone marrow failure and an increase in the size of the spleen as it tries to take over the blood cell production. This condition is again rare at a young age and therefore treatment by bone marrow transplant is not common.
Multiple myeloma
This is a malignant proliferation of plasma cells which are responsible for manufacturing immunoglobins as part of the function of the immune system. It is scarce in people under the age of 50 and only in rare circumstances is it treated by unrelated bone marrow transplant.
Lymphoma
Lymphomas are malignancies of the lymphoid tissue, including the lymph glands and are divided into Hodgkins and Non-Hodgkins disease. Mostly they are treated with chemotherapy and/or autologous bone marrow transplant At present, unrelated bone marrow transplant is reserved for patients with relapsed disease.
