Samina Nur, Khalid Hassan, Waseem Lqbal, Khalid Bukhari.
Low dose chemotherapy in Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) - A report on 21 Cases..
Pak J Pathol Jan ;11(4):20-4.

Patients with MDS have significantly increased morbidity and mortality even if they do not progress to overt leukemia. Unfortunately no totally effective form of therapy has been developed.If the cytopenias become life threatening, some form of therapeutic intervention is warranted. In this study twenty one patients with MDS were treated with low dose cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) for at least 6 months. Supportive care was given where it was absolutely necessary. Eight patients had an increase in platelet count of more than 20x10e9/I. Four patients achieved an absolute neutrophils count of more than 1.0x10e9/1. A rise in haemoglobin was less often seen. Blast count decreased to a variable extent in blood and bone marrow. Six patients evolved to acute myeloid leukaemia. Treatment was continued for 6 to 24 months in responders. Most patients relapsed after discontinuation. Bone marrow toxicity seen with Ara-C was moderate but two elderly patients had irreversible suppression. The results of the study indicate that therapy may improve the quality of life of patients with MDS but does not halt the progression of disease.

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