Anemia: Low red blood cell count
Bone marrow: The soft interior of the bones where new blood cells are created
Erythroid cell: An immature red blood cell
Erythroid maturation agent: Treatment that helps young cells become mature cells
Erythropoiesis: The formation of red blood cells in blood-forming tissue within the bone marrow
Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: A manufactured erythropoietin given to people to help with anemia
Erythropoietin: A natural growth hormone produced by the kidneys that helps make more immature red blood cells
Hemoglobin: Oxygen-carrying protein found in red blood cells
Ineffective erythropoiesis: The inability of immature red blood cells to mature
Intolerant: Unable to take a drug due to effects of the drug or allergies
Median: A statistics term. The middle value in a set of measurements
Mutation: An abnormal change within a gene
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): Derived from myelo, which means marrow, and dysplasia, which means abnormal growth. MDS are a group of disorders in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells
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
Neutropenia: Lower than normal amount of white blood cells
Placebo: An inactive substance that looks the same as, and is given the same way as, an active drug or treatment being tested
Platelet: A type of blood cell that helps with clotting
Prognostic score: A number based on several factors that helps describe the severity of disease or disease progression
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: Cells containing rings of iron deposits
Serum: The clear liquid part of the blood that remains after blood cells and clotting proteins have been removed
Subcutaneous: Under the skin
Thrombocytopenia: Lower than normal number of platelets in the blood
Transfusions: Procedures that add parts of blood or whole blood into the bloodstream
White blood cells (WBCs): Blood cells that help the body fight infection as part of the body’s immune system