Complications and conversions in myeloproliferative disorders: an analysis of 356 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the complications and conversions in myeloproliferative disorders (MPD).


METHODS
Three hundred and fifty six patients with MPD were reviewed, including 78 with etiologic thrombocythemia (ET), 93 with primary myelofibrosis (MF), 185 with polythythemia vera (PV). The clinical observation, follow-up, analysis with SPSS statistic software were performed.


RESULTS
Out of the 356 cases, 101 (28.5%) developed thromboembolic events, 81 (22.8%) hemorrhage, 60 (16.9%) hypertension, 20 (5.6%) coronary heart disease, 3 (0.8%) hemolysis and 1 (0.3%) gastrointestinal ulcer, 2 (0.6%) calculus and 1 (0.3%) bone marrow necrosis. Twenty four patients (6.7%) developed MF (9 in ET, 15 in PV), 2 (0.6%) erythrocytosis (1 in ET, 1 in MF), 3 (0.8%) thrombocythemia (all in PV), 5 (1.4%) acute leukemia (2 in ET, 3 in MF) and 1 (0.3%) multiple myeloma (in ET). Eleven cases (3.1%) died, 5 (1.4%) from acute leukemia, 2 (0.6%) fatal hemorrhages, 1 (0.3%) each myocardial infarction and infectious shock, 2 (0.6%) unknown causes.


CONCLUSIONS
Embolism and bleeding were the main complications in MPD. Conversions among ET, MF and PV hematological malignancies could occur.
Wang
Yi
Y
Institute of Hematology, CAMS and PUMC, Tianjin 300020, China.
Zuo
Anlan
A
Liu
Yinghui
Y
Liu
Bingcheng
B
Hao
Changlai
C
Wang
Lihong
L
Zhou
Xueli
X
Qian
Linsheng
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009196:Myeloproliferative Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality