Myeloproliferative disorders Flashcards
What is Myeloproliferative?
Overproduction of cells in the bone marrow
There are four main myeloproliferative disorders. What are they?
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
Polycythemia vera
Myelofibrosis
Essential thrombocytosis
What is polycythemia vera is characterized by what?
2
elevated Hgb/HCT.
Elevated red cell mass (although difficult to measure)
Elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit
There are 3 main causes of polycythemia in general. (elevated HgB and HCT)
What are they?
Appropriately elevated erythropoietin: hypoxemia
Inappropriately elevated erythropoietin: renal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma
Germline and somatic mutation: polycythemia vera
Genetic production
Renal production
something wrong with erythropoeitn production
Survival if untreated?
treated?
untreated is 6-18 months
If treated the survival is > 10 years
Symptoms associated with polycythemia?
Headache
Weakness
Dizziness
Excessive sweating
Demigraphic that usually gets polycythemia?
3
Average age at diagnosis is 60 years of age
Men more common then women
Most common is in men aged 70-79 (24 cases per 100,000)
Hallmark symptoms of polycythemia?
2
Pruritus post bathing is a hallmark symptom
Erythromelalgia: burning pain in the feet and/or hands often with pallor, erythema or cyanosis
These with all the symtpoms described before
What are the symptoms of polycythemia related to?
thrombosis
Arterial and venous
Transient visual disturbances assocaited with thrombosis due to polycythemia?
2
Amaurosis fugax Scintillating scotomata (opthlamic migraine, decreased retinal and choroidal blood flow due to increased blood viscosity
GI symtpoms associated with polycythemia?
3
Epigastric discomfort
History of peptic ulcer disease
Gastroduodenal erosions
Physical exam findings in polycythemia vera?
6
- Splenomegaly 70% of the time
- Facial plethora (ruddy cyanosis) 67%
- Hepatomegaly
- Injection of conjunctival small vessels &/or engorged veins of the optic fundus
- Excoriation of the skin
- Gouty arthritis and tophi
Lab abnormalities in polycythemia vera?
9
- Hgb/HCT > 18.5/56 men
- Hgb/HCT > 16.5/50 women
- WBC > 10.5
- Platelets > 450 K
- Elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH is released when cells or tissue is destroyed) in 50%
- JAK2 mutation in 98%
- Abnormal serum erythropoietin in 81% (abnormally low)
- Hypercellular bone marrow
- Iron storage in bone marrow is absent
Criteria for PV?
2
Hemoglobin > 18.5 g/dL in men and 16.5 g/dL
Jak2 mutation
What is polycythemia vera treatment targeted at?
2
In which ways can we do this?
3
Lowering hemocrit and decreasing thrombosis
Phlebotomy to keep HCT
What are the mylosuppressive agents that can be used in the treatment of polycythemia vera and in what situations are they used?
1 . Hydroxyurea- use if other treatments arent working or if at high risk for thrombosis
2. Interferon alpha- Use in womenin childbearing age or in hydroxyurea is ineffeective
What are the symptoms of PV?
Pruitis
Hyperuricemia
Erythromelalgia
How would we treat pruitis caused by PV?
7
- Antihistamines,
- H2 blockers,
- myelosuppression,
- interferon alpha,
- antidepressants such as paroxetine (Paxil) or fluoxetine (Prozac),
- photo chemotherapy
- (cool water. hotter the water the worse it will be)
How would we treat hyperuricemia (gout) caused by PV?
Allopurinol for prevention