MDS Glossary

Anemia: Low red blood cell (RBC) count

Blood cells: Blood cells begin as stem cells in the bone marrow. Stem cells grow and mature into different types of cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. After the cells have matured in the bone marrow, the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets enter the bloodstream

Blood pressure: The force of circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels

Bone marrow: The soft interior of the bones where new blood cells are created

Chemotherapy: A type of treatment that kills or stops the growth of abnormal cells in the body. It is often used to treat cancer

Cytopenia: Lower than normal number of blood cells

DNA: The information inside your cells that is responsible for how you look and behave

Erythroid cells: An immature red blood cell

Erythroid maturation agent (EMA): Treatment that helps red blood cells to mature

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA): A manufactured erythropoietin given to people to help with anemia

Erythropoietin: A natural growth hormone produced by the kidneys that tells the body to make more immature red blood cells

Hematocrit: A measure of the body's red blood cells

Hemoglobin (Hgb): Oxygen-carrying protein found in red blood cells

Hormone: A chemical made by your body that travels in the bloodstream to send messages throughout your body

Immunomodulator: A type of medicine that changes part of the immune system

Immunosuppressive therapy: A type of treatment that decreases the body’s immune response

Immunotherapy: A type of treatment that modifies your immune system to help the body fight cancer

Kilogram (kg): A unit for measuring your weight. One kg is 2.2 pounds

Lower-risk: A lower chance of your MDS progressing to a more serious condition

Milligram (mg): A unit for measuring weight

mg/kg: The dose of your medication based on your body weight

Mutation: An abnormal change within a gene

MDS/MPN-RS-T: Abbreviation for myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm with ring sideroblasts and thrombocytosis. It is a rare form of MDS in which there are a high number of platelets in the blood and the immature red blood cells contain ring sideroblasts

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): MDS are a group of disorders in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells

Myelodysplastic syndromes with ring sideroblasts (MDS-RS): A type of MDS where a certain number of immature red blood cells in your bone marrow are ring sideroblasts

Neutropenia: Lower than normal amount of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell

Placebo: An inactive substance that looks the same as, and is given the same way as, an active drug or treatment being tested

Platelets: A type of blood cell that helps with clotting

Red blood cells (RBCs): Blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to all cells in the body

Red blood cell transfusion: A process that adds red blood cells into the bloodstream

Ring sideroblasts (RS): Cells containing rings of iron deposits

Risk level: Your risk level is a score given by your healthcare team. Your risk level helps them understand the chances of your MDS progressing to a more serious condition. Risk level scores can range from “very low” to “very high”

Serum: The clear liquid part of the blood that remains after blood cells and clotting proteins have been removed

SF3B1: Splicing Factor 3B Subunit 1 (SF3B1) is a gene that can have mutations as part of your MDS. This mutation can be tested for as a part of your MDS diagnosis

Stem cell: All immature cells before they mature and develop a specific role

Stem cell transplant: A type of treatment that replaces your abnormal cells with healthy stem cells from a donor

Symptom: A physical or mental sign of a condition or disease

Thrombocytopenia: Lower than normal number of platelets in the blood

Transfusions: Procedures that add parts of blood or whole blood into the bloodstream

Transfusion burden: How often you need to have red blood cell (RBC) transfusions

White blood cells (WBCs): Blood cells that help the body fight infection as part of the body’s immune system