Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes

Hematopoietic insufficiency is the cause of most of the clinical symptoms in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and is responsible for almost all disease-related deaths, especially by bleeding and infection. In addition, during the course of the disease, advanced MDS often transforms into acute myeloid leukemia. MDS incidence is 2–5 per 100,000 per year, but increases with age. In Germany, the incidence among a population of individuals over the age of 65 years is approximately 30 per 100,000 per year. The mean age at diagnosis is approximately 75 years [1].