Myelodysplastic Syndrome - Ringing Ears

Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of disorders in which something goes wrong in your bone marrow and you don't produce enough healthy blood cells. Ringing ears, or tinnitus, is a symptom of another condition such as ear injury. The two conditions share some risk factors.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of myelodysplastic syndromes include fatigue, frequent infections including ear infections and easy bruising or bleeding. Symptoms of ringing ears include hearing sounds such as ringing or whistling when no sound is present.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes includes blood tests and removal some of your bone marrow to check for abnormalities. Ringing ears is diagnosed by a physical exam of your ears and a hearing test.

Complications

• Complications of myelodysplastic syndromes include anemia, recurrent infections, bleeding which doesn't stop and a higher risk of developing leukemia. Complications of ringing ears can include problems sleeping, irritability, trouble concentrating and memory problems.

Risks

• Risk factors for both conditions include being male and over 60. Myelodsyplastic risks include exposure to industrial chemicals, heavy metals, chemotherapy and radiation. Ringing ears risks include being Caucasian and exposure to loud noise.

Medicine

• Myelodysplastic treatment includes medicines to increase blood cells, suppress the immune system and reduce the need for blood transfusions. Ringing ears are treated with medicines such as acamprosate, alprazolam and amitriptyline to reduce symptoms.

Other Treatment

• Other treatment includes blood transfusions to replace red and white blood cells and platelets, and bone marrow stem cell transplant to destroy defective blood cells and replace them with healthy, donated cells.