Any of a group of hematological diseases which primarily affect people over 60, in which there is inadequate bone marrow production of normal blood cells. These conditions begin when an abnormal clone of cells dominates the marrow; they may evolve into acute leukemia.
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), also known as myelodysplasia, refers to a condition wherein the bone marrow fails to function normally, impacting the production of different types of blood cells derived from the bone marrow. It is commonly described as a preleukemic disorder, as it can progress and transform into acute leukemia. This condition involves abnormalities in the development and maturation of blood cells, leading to insufficient or dysfunctional production of healthy blood cells.