[haematologica reports] 2006;2(7):57-59

Azacytidine: first therapeutic opportunity for myelodysplastic syndromes Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)are clonal disorders characterizedby ineffective hematopoiesis, wich can lead either to fatal cytopenia or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). During the last 14 years, important progress has been made in the understanding of the biology and prognosis of MDS; risk-adapted treat-ment strategies were estabilished, accord-ing to the median age (60-75 years) of MDS patients and the individual history of the desease (number of cytopenias, cyto-genetic changes, transfusion requirements). The use of allogeneic bone marrow trans-plantation for MDS patients currently offer