Dr. Nazha on the Risk of Progression to Myelofibrosis in Polycythemia Vera

Aziz Nazha, MD, hematologist and medical oncologist, director, Center for Clinical Artificial Intelligence, Cleveland Clinic, discusses the risk of progression to myelofibrosis in patients with polycythemia vera (PV).

About 15% to 20% of patients with PV will experience progression to myelofibrosis within 7 to 15 years of their initial diagnosis of PV, Nazha says. Moreover, it is important to discuss potential signs of progression with patients.

PV is associated with an increased level of red blood cells, Nazha explains. Although anemia may be a result of treatment, patients who become anemic may be experiencing progression to myelofibrosis.

Additional signs of progression include significantly elevated lactate dehydrogenase, erythroleukoplastic changes, or severe splenomegaly of 20 cm to 30 cm, Nazha says.

Additionally, more fibrosis inside the bone marrow should be observed when patients with PV undergo a bone marrow biopsy, concludes Nazha.