Myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis is a slow-growing disease that occurs when scar tissue builds up in the bone marrow, replacing healthy bone marrow, which is responsible for producing healthy blood cells. The scarring of the bone marrow stops its ability to produce healthy blood cells, increasing the risk of anemia, infections, and bleeding.

Causes of myelofibrosis

The causes of myelofibrosis are unknown, and there are no known risk factors. It typically occurs in people over the age of 50. Diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma may also cause bone marrow scarring. This is called secondary myelofibrosis.

Symptoms of myelofibrosis

Weakness or fatigue
Pain below the ribs on the left side
Feeling full after eating only a little (signs of an enlarged spleen)
shortness of breath
Fever
Easy bleeding or bruising
Frequent infection
Pale skin

Diagnosis of myelofibrosis

Complete blood count (CBC) test and other blood tests
Peripheral blood smear to check for any abnormalities in the shape or maturity of the blood cells
Bone marrow aspiration or biopsy to examine the bone marrow for abnormalities
Cytogenetic analysis to detect changes in the chromosomes of blood or bone marrow cells

Treatment of myelofibrosis at KHCC

There are different types of treatment for myelofibrosis depending on the condition and general health of the patient. The aim of treatment is to relieve the symptoms and control the disease to improve the patient’s quality of life. Treatment can include chemotherapy, blood transfusions, surgery (to remove an enlarged spleen) and allogeneic stem cell transplants.