Related blood conditions
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of conditions that can develop when abnormalities occur in cells produced in the bone marrow. Leukaemia is an abnormality of one particular cell, the white blood cells (which then crowd out and therefore inhibit the production of other cells). However, myelodysplastic syndromes may be abnormalities affecting one or more cells or sometimes all of the cells, namely white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets, which can all develop from a single stem cell.
The bone marrow in someone with MDS is typically more active than normal but the number of cells circulating in the peripheral blood is reduced. This may be due to the cells being defective and getting destroyed in the bone marrow before they even begin to circulate. Despite this hyperactivity, one identifying factor in MDS is empty bone marrow (as there are not the same number of cells there compared to normal healthy marrow), called hypocellular marrow.
MDS may also be known as a pre, or smouldering, leukaemia as it has the potential to develop into acute leukaemia. However, not everyone with MDS will develop acute leukaemia.
For more information about this disease, or a copy of our information booklet on MDS, please contact lbf@leukaemia.org.nz or 0800 15 10 15.
Aplastic anaemia
Aplastic anaemia is not classified as a form of cancer. It is a rare condition characterised by a significant reduction in the number of red cells, white cells and platelets in the bone marrow. This occurs when the bone marrow fails to produce sufficient new numbers of these cells. On examination following a biopsy, the bone marrow often shows that normal cells have been replaced by fat cells.
The cause of aplastic anaemia is thought to be autoimmune response by the body, whereby the immune system starts to destroy tissues within it. It may be caused by triggers such as a response to certain drugs, exposure to certain chemicals or as a result of a virus.
Myeloproliferative disorders
Myeloproliferative disorders refer to a group of conditions closely associated with leukaemia which are generally characterised by the excessive production of one type of cell within the bone marrow. Essentially, there are three main types of disorder which come under this heading - thrombocytopenia, myelofibrosis and polycythaemia rubra vera.
Thalassaemia
Thalassaemia describes a group of genetic conditions that are characterised by a reduction in the number of haemoglobin cells (red blood cells) produced in the bone marrow. Haemoglobin is the cell in the body that is responsible for transporting oxygen. A reduction in the number of haemoglobin cells causes anaemia and, if left untreated, it can be life threatening as the vital organs of the body, such as the heart, lungs and liver, may fail due to lack of oxygen.
Thalassaemia can be divided into two main categories, alpha thalassaemia and beta thalassaemia, depending on which part of the haemoglobin is deficient. These can then be divided into three further classifications - thalassaemia minor, thalassaemia intermedia, and thalassaemia major. The treatment for each classification may vary slightly, depending on the individual and the clinical symptoms experienced.
Other diseases
Other diseases such as Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia, chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), amyloidosis and haemochromatosis are all conditions that occur within the bone marrow. However, most are quite rare.
For more information about any of these diseases please contact lbf@leukaemia.org.nz or 0800 15 10 15.
