Myelodysplastic syndromes: Aspects of current medical care and economic considerations in Germany

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of
diseases mainly affecting older people. The use of an increasing
number of therapeutic options depends on a systematic risk
stratification of the patients. A high percentage of MDS patients
need blood transfusions as supportive care, which influence quality
of life and cause a great part of the costs generated by MDS
therapy. In this article which is based on a workshop about the
burden of MDS held in October 2006 in Munich, MDS is discussed with
regard to different aspects: current therapies, transfusion
medicine, geriatrics, quality of life, and health economic aspects.