Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) symptoms and diagnosis
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) symptoms
The main symptom of MDS is anaemia. Symptoms vary from person to person and depend on which blood cells have become reduced in your bloodstream.
The main symptoms of MDS are:
- Anaemia – Due to a lack of red blood cells in your bloodstream. About 8 in 10 people with MDS have anaemia. Anaemia can cause tiredness (fatigue) and shortness of breath, even from light exercise.
- Bruising and bleeding – Caused by a low number of platelets in your blood. You may have nose bleeds or bleeding gums. There can sometimes be a rash of dots on your skin, which are tiny bleedings under the skin called petechiae.
- Infections – Recurrent or persistent infections are a symptom of MDS. This is due to a low number of white blood cells in your blood.
Some MDS patients have no signs or symptoms and are diagnosed by chance as a result of a routine blood test.
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