Age-related differences in disease characteristics and clinical outcomes in polycythemia vera

Brady L. Stein, Santosh Saraf, Urszula Sobol, Anna Halpern, Jamile Shammo, Damiano Rondelli, Laura Michaelis, Olatoyosi Odenike, Alfred Rademaker, Anaadriana Zakarija, Brandon McMahon, Jerry L. Spivak, Alison R. Moliterno

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus 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 × 109/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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1989-1995
Number of pages7
JournalLeukemia and Lymphoma
Volume54
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2013

Keywords

  • JAK2 V617F
  • Myeloproliferative neoplasm
  • Polycythemia
  • Splanchnic vein thrombosis
  • Vera
  • Young

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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