Dr. Rossetti on Symptom Management for Patients With MPNs

James M. Rossetti, DO, hematologist, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, discusses symptom management for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

Assessing patients to understand their disease-related symptoms is an important step at diagnosis, explains Rossetti. Often, patients with MPNs present with vague symptoms for many years prior to diagnosis.

Significant disease-related symptoms resulting from cytokine release can occur, even in patients with low-risk disease, says Rossetti.

In terms of symptom management, available agents like ruxolitinib (Jakafi) have helped alleviate symptoms in some patients with myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera, says Rossetti. Aspirin and other antiplatelet therapies are additional agents worth considering for patients, concludes Rossetti.