Blood cancer study links blood formation and bone health
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) belong to the malignant diseases of the hematopoietic system that occur primarily in older adults. In patients with MDS, blood formation in bone marrow is impaired. Medical care therefore typically focuses on blood counts and the treatment of the resulting anemia and other changes in the blood profile; some patients also require regular blood transfusions. Until…
A study published in the journal Leukemia has revealed a link between blood formation in bone marrow and bone health in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Myelodysplastic syndromes are malignant diseases of the hematopoietic system that primarily affect older adults. The research, known as the Bone and Hematology in the Elderly (BoHemE) study, was conducted by researchers at Dresden University Hospital.
The study found that patients with MDS had lower bone density at the start of the three-year study compared to age-matched control subjects. Moreover, the bone density continued to decline in MDS patients throughout the observation period. The study also discovered that a specific mutation in the DNMT3A gene in blood-forming cells was associated with lower bone density.
Additionally, patients with low bone density or osteoporosis were more frequently found to have low calcium levels. The results highlight the importance of considering bone health alongside hematologic care in the comprehensive treatment of MDS.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
