title: [Current treatment strategies for myelodysplastic syndromes].
abstract: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are myeloid clonal disorders presumably induced by genetic mutations in immature hematopoietic cells. According to the international prognostic scoring system (IPSS or IPSS-R), patients are classified into two groups: lower-risk MDS (LR-MDS) and higher-risk MDS (HR-MDS). A majority of LR-MDS patients manifest refractory cytopenias due to inefficient hematopoiesis, and patients in this group are principally treated with agents stimulating hematopoiesis or differentiation. On the other hand, patients with HR-MDS are at much higher risk of developing leukemia, and thus require prompt hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or chemotherapy. In this section, I will discuss current treatment strategies for MDS in Japan, including future perspectives.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors