Clinical Edge

Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions

Impact of Bone Marrow Fibrosis in Polycythemia Vera

Blood Cancer J; ePub 2017 Mar 10; Barraco, et al

Publish date:

The link between ≥grade 1 bone marrow reticulin fibrosis in polycythemia vera (PV) and later fibrotic progression was confirmed in a study involving 262 individuals.

Investigators sought to validate certain observations in participants with PV, and looked at other risk factors linked with myelofibrosis-free survival (MFFS). Among the results:

  • Nearly half had ≥grade 1 reticulin fibrosis at diagnosis.

  • Clinical features were similar in patients with and without bone marrow fibrosis.

  • Bone marrow fibrosis did not substantially impact overall, leukemia-free, or thrombosis-free survival.

  • Bone marrow fibrosis was linked with 3-fold higher risk of MFFS.

  • Other MFFS risk factors included leukocytosis, palpable splenomegaly, and abnormal karyotype.

Citation:

Barraco D, Cerquozzi S, Hanson C, et al. Prognostic impact of bone marrow fibrosis in polycythemia vera: Validation of the IWG-MRT study and additional observations. [Published online ahead of print March 10, 2017]. Blood Cancer J. doi:10.1038/bcj.2017.17.

This Week's Must Reads