Update on the treatment of polycythemia vera with recombinant interferon alfa or imatinib mesylate.
Polycythemia vera is a myeloproliferative disease, which, if untreated, leads to thrombohemorrhagic complications and eventually to progressive myelofibrosis, anemia, and splenomegaly. Two newly available drugs, interferon alfa and imatinib mesylate, may alter the course of this disease. Used as single agents, each produces lasting remissions in about 75% of patients with polycythemia vera. Of significance, change in JAK2 expression has been reported after treatment with both agents.
Silver
Richard T
RT
New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, 1300 York Avenue, Box 581, New York, NY 10021, USA. rtsilve@med.cornell.edu
D000328:Adult; D001549:Benzamides; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053614:Janus Kinase 2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018962:Phlebotomy; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001549:Benzamides; D007370:Interferon Type I; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; C507924:JAK2 protein, human; D053614:Janus Kinase 2