title: Defining targets in myeloproliferative disorders: reflecting on what is important.
abstract: The current lack of curative options for essential thrombocythaemia (ET) leads to the goal of reducing the risk of potentially life-threatening thrombohaemorrhagic complications with long-term treatment. The setting of relevant treatment targets is an important consideration in this process, allowing the monitoring of disease control. Recent revisions to the World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria for the chronic MPDs 1 have implications not only for the diagnosis of patients, but also for the management of their disease and the continuing assessment of their progress. The purpose of this article is to discuss recent revisions to the WHO guidelines, and their influence on the setting of treatment targets in patients with ET.
authors.affiliation: Johannes Wesling Clinic Minden, Minden, Germany. martin.griesshammer @klinikum-minden.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griesshammer
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009196:Myeloproliferative Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010976:Platelet Count; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014944:World Health Organization