MDS

Stands for Myelodysplastic Syndrome. A heterogeneous group of chronic myeloid neoplasms which usually share the following features: cytopenia (decrease blood counts such as anemia, thrombocytopenia, or neutropenia) with the exception of MDS with isolated 5q- which may show an increase in platelets), lack of splenomegaly and a hypercellular marrow. The most common MDS include RAEB-I, RAEB-II, RCUD (e.g. RA or RARS), RCMD, and MDS with isolated 5q-. RAEB have the worst prognosis (higher liklihod of transforming into AML) while MDS with isolated 5q- has the best prognosis.