Vol 1, No 1 (2010)
Review paper
Published online: 2010-02-04
Practical recommendations on the management of myelodysplastic syndromes with special emphasis on the use of lenalidomide in del(5q)
Hematologia 2010;1(1):71-79.
Abstract
The last decade witnessed significant improvement of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) therapy
results. This was due to more objective criteria for histopathological diagnosis according to
World Health Organization (WHO) classification and risk stratification of International
Prognostic System Score (IPSS). Treatment strategies are tailored based on the therapeutic
goals within each classification and prognostic risk groups and consist of the best supportive
care with or without less or more intense cytoreduction. This was allowed due to the emergence
of new therapies, including lenalidomide in patients with IPSS low or intermediate-low risk
MDS with del(5q), and demethylating agents (azacitidine, decitabine) in the treatment of
patients with intermediate-high and high risk or refractory MDS.
Keywords: myelodysplastic syndrometherapylenalidomide