Cancer Treatment Today

Myelofibrosis is a Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm with a natural history characterized by progressive anemia, spleen enlargement due to extramedullary hematopoiesis, and potential for evolution to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). For patients who require treatment and are not candidates for transplantation, available therapies are palliative. Thesy include: chemotherapy such as hydroxyurea; erythropoiesis-stimulating agents;

Experience with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in the treatment of the anemia secondary to myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) is limited.There are a number of reports of small numbers of patiens demonstrating responsiveness but also a recent report  which presents a picture of non-responsiveness of transfusion dependent myelofibrosis to erythropoietin therapy. Initial studies failed to show significant improvements in hemoglobin

Myelofibrosis is a bone marrow disorder that disrupts the body’s normal production of blood cells. The result is extensive scarring in the bone marrow, leading to severe anaemia, weakness, fatigue, and often, an enlarged spleen and liver. Splenomegaly can be massive and is occasionally the presenting symtpom, with pain, early satiety, fever and left sided tenderness. It is crucial to rule out splenic infaction, becasue left-sided pain is not uncommon