Myelofibrosis Health Article

Prognosis

Similar to leukemias, myelofibrosis is progressive and often requires therapy to control the disease. Myelofibrosis can progress to acute lymphocytic leukemia or lymphoma. Although a number of factors to predict the survival time have been proposed, advanced age or severe anemia are consistently associated with a poor prognosis. The average survival rate of patients diagnosed with myelofibrosis is five years. Death is usually caused by infection, bleeding, complications of splenectomy, heart failure, or progression to leukemia. Spontaneous remission is rare.

Prevention

Persons who have been exposed to radiation, benzene, or radioactive thorium dioxide (a chemical used during certain diagnostic radiological procedures) are at risk for myelofibrosis.

Resources

BOOKS

Lichtman, Marshall. "Idiopathic Myelofibrosis (Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia)." In Williams Hematology, edited by Ernest Beutler et al. New York: McGraw Hill, 2001, pp.1125-36.

Mavroudis, Dimitrios and John Barrett. "Myelofibrosis (Agno genic Myeloid Metaplasia)." In Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes, edited by Neal Young. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 2000, pp.122-34.

Peterson, Powers. "Myelofibrosis." In Practical Diagnosis of Hematologic Disorders, edited by Carl Kjeldsberg. Chicago: ASCP Press, 2000, pp.477-9.

PERIODICALS

Reilly, J.T. "Idiopathic Myelofibrosis: Pathogenesis, Natural History and Management." Blood Reviews 11 (1997): 233-42.

Belinda Rowland, Ph.D.

J. Ricker Polsdorfer, M.D.

Anemia

—Low numbers of red blood cells in the blood.

Benzene

—A colorless volatile flammable toxic liquid hydrocarbon used as a solvent and as a motor fuel.

Biopsy

—Surgical removal of tissue for microscopic examination.

Fibrosis

—Buildup of scar tissue.

Glucocorticoid therapy

—Treatment using corticoids that are anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive.

Leukemia

—Cancer of white blood cells.

Portal hypertension

—Extreme pressure on the blood vessels of the liver.

Stem cell

—A cell that has the ability to become many different specialized cells.