Marrow Fibrosis at Diagnosis Affects Outcome of Polycythemia Vera

PV patients with fibrosis were less likely than those without fibrosis to develop thrombosis but more likely to have splenomegaly and develop myelofibrosis.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a clonal stem cell disorder characterized by hyperplasia of bone marrow cellular elements. Occasionally, increases in fibrous tissue are also noted at the time of the initial marrow examination, but how often this occurs and whether it affects the prognosis of the disease are uncertain.

To address these issues, an international team of investigators reviewed the clinical course of 526 patients with well-characterized PV. Marrow biopsies obtained at the time of diagnosis were graded according to the degree of fibrosis on a scale of 0 to 3 (0 for none and 3 for extensive).

Fibrosis was found in only 74 (14%) of PV patients, and only 2 had fibrosis higher than grade 1. Fibrotic patients were more likely than nonfibrotic…

Reviewing Author

David Green, MD, PhD

Disclosures

EquityNovartis

David Green, MD, PhD

Disclosures

EquityNovartis