Myelofibrosis and Myeloid Metaplasia
Myelofibrosis is caused by the proliferation of an abnormal bone marrow stem cell that causes the replacement of bone marrow with a fibrous connective tissue. The growth of this tissue increasingly impairs the body's ability to generate new blood cells and can cause chronic infection, bleeding, organ failure, and leukemic transformation. The mean survival rate for myelofibrosis is 5 years.
Symptoms
Symptoms include anemia, severe fatigue, low grade fevers, night sweats, and weight loss. A battery of blood tests and bone marrow pathology are required to determine a positive diagnosis. Typically a small sample of bone marrow is removed and the blood chromosones are examined to exclude other diseases.
Treatment Options
There are no drugs that can cure myelofibrosis, but drugs can alleviate some symptoms of the disorder. Bone marrow transplantation can potentially myelofibrosis in some patients, but the serious side effects render it too risky for most patients. Other potential treatments include radiation or chemotherapy depending on the individual morphology of the disease.
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