Myelofibrosis with Myeloid Metaplasia

Overview

Mayo Clinic is a world leader in treating patients who have myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia. Mayo specialists annually evaluate more than 400 patients who have this disease. Specialists in hematology and transplant design the best treatment plan possible to help patients manage their disease. Diagnosis and treatment of myelofibrosis can be complicated, because the disease can exhibit symptoms similar to those of other disorders.

Diagnosis

Physicians diagnose myelofibrosis based on symptoms. Typically a small sample of bone marrow is removed via a biopsy and experienced hematopathologists analyze the bone marrow chromosomes to exclude other diseases. The diagnosis of myelofibrosis should be confirmed at a medical facility, such as Mayo Clinic, which has extensive experience with this disorder.

Treatment Options

No known drugs can cure myelofibrosis. However, drugs can alleviate some symptoms. Mayo Clinic has studied many drug therapies for the disease and continues its research via clinical trials. Bone marrow transplantation can potentially cure some people. Serious side effects, however, make this treatment too risky for the majority of patients who have myelofibrosis. One area of investigation at Mayo is a less toxic "mini-transplant." Read more about myelofibrosis treatment.

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About Myelofibrosis with Myeloid Metaplasia

Myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia is a chronic form of leukemia that causes secondary scarring or "fibrosis" in the bone marrow. The disease, also known as agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, may arise on its own or evolve from other myeloproliferative diseases that cause overproduction of blood cells in the bone marrow, such as essential thrombocythemia or polycythemia vera. Typically, people develop myelofibrosis around age 60. The disease can lead to progressive bone marrow dysfunction and anemia, and decreases in other key blood cells such as infection-fighting white blood cells and blood-clotting platelets.

Read more about myelofibrosis at www.MayoClinic.com