Bone marrow failure and myelodysplastic syndromes
The hospital's program for
bone marrow failure and
myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) brings together expert physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff to diagnose and provide care for children and their families in a multi-disciplinary environment. Assisting our team of hematologists, hematopathologists (a
pathologist who specializes in diseases of the blood and related tissues), oncologists (
cancer specialists) and stem cell transplant physicians are consultants in dentistry, dermatology, endocrinology,
gastroenterology, genetics,
nephrology, urology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, psychology, pulmonary medicine, neurology, child life and social services.
Bone marrow failure and myelodysplastic syndromes are closely related disorders that are often difficult to diagnosis and challenging to treat. They encompass a wide range of diseases.
Bone marrow failure occurs when the marrow (the site of blood production) fails to produce enough white blood cells to fight infection, platelets to stop bleeding, and red blood cells to provide oxygen to the body. Fatigue, fever, paleness and bruising or bleeding are frequent signs of these diseases.
Myelodysplastic syndromes are rare in children but much more common in adults. These diseases are frequently associated with the risk of acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer of blood cells. They too present with signs of bone marrow failure.
Some of these disorders are acquired, while others are inherited.
Bone marrow failure/myelodysplastic syndromes include the following:
Accurate diagnosis requires clinical experience, careful history and physical examination, and sophisticated laboratory testing of blood and bone marrow. Consultations with other pediatric specialties are often needed. Special imaging tests may also be indicated. Treatment may be observation, transfusion support and antibiotics, or stem cell transplantation.
The hospital's experienced multi-disciplinary team composed of hematologists, oncologists, and stem cell transplant specialists can recommend and provide the best treatment of these complex diseases.
Research into the causes and treatment of bone marrow failure and myelodysplastic syndromes is conducted in the laboratories of Drs. Seth Corey and Morris Kletzel. Drs. Alexis Thompson, Sonali Chaudhury, and Maria Proytcheva perform clinical research into these diseases. Advanced practice nurse Becki Maloney coordinates the program.
For more information about the program, call Becki Maloney at 773.880.3815 or Dr. Corey directly at 312.503.6694.