Prefibrotic primary myelofibrosis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Prefibrotic primary myelofibrosis | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Pre-PMF, Early stage myelofibrosis |
| Specialty | Hematology and oncology |
Prefibrotic primary myelofibrosis (Pre-PMF) is a rare blood cancer, classified by the World Health Organization as a distinct type of myeloproliferative neoplasm in 2016.[1] The disease is progressive to overt primary myelofibrosis, though the rate of progression is variable and not all patients progress. Symptoms and presentation can mimic essential thrombocythemia, with the main differentiator for pre-PMF being the presence of fibrosis in the bone marrow.
Major Criteria
A bone marrow examination is required for diagnosis.
The bone marrow histology should demonstrate the following:[2]
- A proliferation and atypia of the bone marrow cells that produce platelets (megakaryocytes)
- Reticulin fibrosis which doesn't exceed grade 1. Grade 2 or 3 is a diagnostic criteria for primary myelofibrosis.
- Age-adjusted cellularity
- Proliferation of granulocytes, a type of white blood cell
- Decreased production of red blood cells (erythropoiesis)
- Presence of JAK2, CALR, MPL or other clonal marker.
Minor Criteria
According to the WHO, at least one of these minor criteria should be present:[1]
- Anemia which is not attributable to another condition
- High white blood cell count (leukocytosis)
- An enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
- LDH levels above the upper limit of the reference range.
Comparison with primary myleofibrosis
Reticulin or collagen fibrosis grade 2 or 3 is a diagnostic criteria for primary myelofibrosis.
Comparison with Essential Thrombocythemia
Both pre-PMF and Essential thrombocythemia can share diagnostic similarities, such as a proliferation of megakaryocytes and a presence of a mutation. The presence of Reticulin fibrosis in pre-PMF provides the clearest distinction between the two.
Treatment
Patients considered low risk for thrombosis or major bleeding should be observed only. Low-dose aspirin is recommended for patients without a history of thrombosis. For intermediate risk patients, symptom driven therapy for anaemia or constitutional symptoms.[citation needed]
For high risk patients with a history of thrombosis, oral anticoagulants and cytoreductive drugs such as hydroxycarbamide are recommended, and the patient should be treated as in primary myelofibrosis.[1][3]