Myeloproliferative diseases

Myeloproliferative diseases

Myeloproliferative diseases are characterised by the clonal proliferation of one or more stem cells in the bone marrow (occasionally additionally in the liver and spleen). The WHO classification includes chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML), polycythemia vera (PV), myelofibrosis (MF), essential thrombocythemia (ET). These conditions have some common features:

·        Extramedullary haemopoesis in the spleen and liver.

·        Marrow hyperplasia often extending into the fatty marrow.

·        Increased marrow reticulin.

·        Platelet dysfunction, clumping or non-adhesion.

·        Hyperuricaemia due to high nucleic acid turnover,

particularly if cytotoxics are used.

There may be transformation from one condition to another or to acute myeloid leukaemia.