title: Long-term results of prednisone treatment for the anemia of myelofibrosis.
abstract: This study has retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of single-agent prednisone, usually given after failure of other therapies, in 30 patients with myelofibrosis (MF) and severe anemia. Initial dose was 0.5-1 mg/kg daily, with tapering to the minimum effective dose in responders. Twelve patients (40%) achieved anemia response according to the revised International Working Group for Myelofibrosis Research and Treatment criteria, after a median time of 1.1 months on treatment. Median response duration was 12.3 months. Patients with constitutional symptoms or > 2% circulating blasts had a trend for a lower response rate. A platelet increase > 50 × 10(9)/L was observed in three out of 11 patients with baseline counts < 100 × 10(9)/L. Median survival from prednisone start was significantly longer in anemia responders (5.0 years, 95% CI = 3.5-6.5, vs 1.5 years, 95% CI = 0.2-2.8; p = 0.002). Prednisone can improve the anemia and thrombocytopenia in selected MF patients after failure to standard therapies.
authors.affiliation: a Hematology and Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: Juan-Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hernández-Boluda
authors.affiliation: b Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic , IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Trillos
authors.affiliation: c Hematology Department, Hospital Ramón y Cajal , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Valentín
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: García-Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: d Hospital Morales Meseguer , Murcia , Spain.
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrer-Marín
authors.affiliation: e Hematology Department, Institut Català d'Oncologia-Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol , Badalona , Spain.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xicoy
authors.affiliation: f Hematology Department, Hospital del Mar-IMIM , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Larrán
authors.affiliation: g Hematology Department, Hospital La Paz , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kerguelen
authors.affiliation: h Hematology Department, Hospital Vall d'Hebron , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barba
authors.affiliation: a Hematology and Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: a Hematology and Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: Juan-Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.affiliation: b Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic , IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Juan-Gonzalo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.affiliation: b Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic , IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cervantes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011241:Prednisone
keywords: Myelofibrosis; anemia; corticosteroids; prednisone; treatment