H. Joachim Deeg

The diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a heterogeneous group of clonal hematopoietic disorders, is being made with increasing frequency over the past decade owing to increased recognition, improved understanding, and an aging population. This book, completely updated since the first edition, summarizes in a concise and focused way the current knowledge of all aspects of MDS. Clinical presentation, etiology, epidemiology, molecular biology, classification, and staging are all discussed. Clear guidance is provided on diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and treatment strategies are explained in detail, including administration of hematopoietic growth factors, biologically based treatment, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and supportive care. Additional chapter is devoted to MDS in children. This practically oriented book will be of value to a broad spectrum of students and practitioners in the field.

The first edition to A Guide to Bone Marrow Transplantation was published 10 years ago. At that time we perceived a need for an introductory text to the area of marrow transplantation, a rapidly developing field with few general texts avail­ able. Since then the situation has changed dramatically. Several introductory texts, therapeutic manuals and comprehensive volumes have been published. There is a heightened awareness of the availability, utility and potential of bone marrow transplantation, and of peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in particular. In many cases stem cell transplantation is being practiced by physi­ cians as a standard therapy. For those reasons we weighed carefully the question whether the Guide was still useful or even had a place. The feedback we received from physicians in practice or in training (including both hematologists and other physicians), as well as from nurses, physician's assistants, nurse practitioners, and other personnel in­ volved in one way or another in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation indicat­ ed that such a text was still desirable as an introduction that focused on princi­ ples rather than the latest up-to-date results.

In 1988 we presented our Guide to Bone Marrow Transplan­ tation. The reception has been enthusiastic and we have re­ ceived a flood of critical comments, suggestions and requests to provide an update in due time. Although several books on marrow transplantation have recently been published, their scope and goal have generally been different. Hence, we have decided to prepare a second edition of the Guide. Our aim was to maintain a short, concise text which never­ theless would incorporate changes that have occurred over the past four or five years. We have streamlined the description of pretransplant considerations, by condensing two sections into one (Treatment Planning and Timing of Transplantation). This also facilitated the review of controversial indications for marrow transplantation, for example in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia in first chemotherapy-induced remission. We have updated the chapter dealing with conditioning regimens and have expanded the section on donor selection, in particular in regard to the current level of tissue typing and the identification of unrelated volunteer donors. In the chapter on collection, processing, and infusion of marrow, we have incorporated recent developments, for example, the use of closed systems for marrow harvesting and processing and the use of solid phase separation of stem cells.

This third edition continues the idea of the previous version to provide an overview of blood and marrow transplantations. It discusses indication and transplanation and pre-transplant considerations, then transplant procedures with all acute and delayed procedure. An outlook on developments and their future prospects is included, and problems and pre- and post-transplant complications are discussed. The text seeks to help practising haematologists, oncologists and other physicians, as well as physicians in training and students, to develop an idea as to when blood and marrow transplantation should be considered, what the costs are and how a donor can be selected.

This handbook is a therapeutic manual designed as a quick, practical guide and reference for house officers, fellows, pharmacists and nurses on the bone marrow transplant unit. Indications, complications, drug doses and approaches to clinical management problems are emphasized. Diseases requiring bone marrow transplants are reviewed along with patient evaluation, marrow processing, engraftment relapse and general patient care.