what is the medical term for mds
The myelodysplastic syndromes (also known as MDS or myelodysplasia) are hematological (i.e., blood-related) medical conditions with ineffective production (or  dysplasia ) of all blood cells. Patients with MDS can develop severe anemia and require blood transfusions. In some cases, the disease worsens and the patient develops cytopenias (low blood counts) caused by progressive bone marrow failure. The outlook in MDS depends on the type and severity. Many people live normal lifespans with MDS. The myelodysplastic syndromes are all disorders of the hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow (only related to myeloid lineage). In MDS, hematopoiesis (i.e., blood production) is disorderly and ineffective. The number and quality of blood-forming cells decline irreversibly, further impairing blood production. The mean age of onset of MDS is 68 years.