Faculty Collaboration Database

Age-related differences in disease characteristics and clinical outcomes in polycythemia vera. Leuk Lymphoma 2013 Sep;54(9):1989-95

Date

12/19/2012

Pubmed ID

23245211

DOI

10.3109/10428194.2012.759656

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84879104781 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   57 Citations

Abstract

The natural history and prognosis for young patients with polycythemia vera (PV) in the post-JAK2 V617F era are not well defined. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed disease characteristics and clinical outcomes in 120 patients ≤ 45 years and 84 patients ≥ 65 years at diagnosis. Despite lower white blood counts (9.2 vs. 13.4 × 10(9)/L, p = 0.004) and a lower JAK2 V617F allele burden (51% vs. 66%, p = 0.015), younger patients with PV had comparable rates of vascular complications compared to older patients (27% vs. 31%, p = 0.64). However, splanchnic vein thrombosis occurred more frequently in younger patients (13% vs. 2%, p = 0.0056). Myelofibrotic and leukemic transformation, the most serious complications of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), occurred with similar frequencies in young versus older patients (15% vs. 10%, p = 0.29). Prevention or delay of these complications is currently the most urgent challenge in the care of younger patients with PV.

Author List

Stein BL, Saraf S, Sobol U, Halpern A, Shammo J, Rondelli D, Michaelis L, Odenike O, Rademaker A, Zakarija A, McMahon B, Spivak JL, Moliterno AR

Author

Laura Michaelis MD Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Disease Progression
Female
Humans
Leukemia
Male
Patient Outcome Assessment
Polycythemia Vera
Prevalence
Primary Myelofibrosis
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Vascular Diseases