Myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis is a rare form of leukemia (a blood cancer) that affects the body’s blood-forming tissues. Patients with this disorder have significant scarring within their bone marrow due to disrupted production of new blood cells that can be attributed to a genetic mutation. While some patients remain symptomless for years with the disease, in many others it progresses to a more aggressive form of leukemia. The primary symptoms of myelofibrosis are anemia, weakness, easy bruising and bleeding, bone pain, chronic infections, fever, loss of color and an enlarged spleen. Patients who do not have symptoms may not require immediate medical treatment, but for those who are symptomatic, new medications like ruxolitinib and others that are currently in clinical trials may be employed. In cases where the patient has severe anemia, additional therapies may be required such as blood transfusions, androgen hormone therapy to promote the production of red blood cells, and additional medications.