[Ruth Cuadra]

Monica,

I don't think there is a standard for the frequency with which MDS patients should have bone marrow tests. The characteristics of MDS vary so much from patient to patient that it would be impossible to quote a "standard" frequency with which patients should have bone marrow tests. In the months after I was treated with ATG for aplastic anemia, I had several bone marrow biopsies to help gauge the status of my marrow as I recovered. When one of those tests showed chromosomal abnormalities (I was re-diagnosed with MDS), I was tested more frequently. By the second year after my transplant, when my blood counts and marrow tests were stable, the frequency of my bone marrow tests were reduced to annual checkups. After 5 years with stable counts, the tests were discontinued.

Blast counts can be measured in the blood and bone marrow, but iron stains are needed to detect ringed sideroblasts.

You have probably already seen the response on AA-MDS-TALK from Wendy Beltrami, our resident expert on issues related to the "freshness" of blood for transfusions, to your question about expiration dates.

Regards,
Ruth