Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) describes a heterogeneous group of bone marrow diseases, now understood to reflect numerous germline and somatic drivers, characterized by recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities and gene mutations. Precursor conditions including clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential and clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance confer risk for MDS as well as other hematopoietic malignancies and cardiovascular complications. The future is likely to bring an understanding of those individuals who are at the highest risk of progression to MDS and preventive strategies to prevent malignant transformation.
Keywords: clonal hematopoiesis; genetics; germline predisposition; myelodysplastic syndrome.