Myelofibrosis is a rare disease of the bone marrow in which collagen builds up fibrous scar tissue inside the marrow cavity. This is caused by the uncontrolled growth of a blood cell precursor, which results in the accumulation of scar tissue in bone marrow. Myelofibrosis goes by many names including idiopathic myelofibrosis, agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, chronic myelosclerosis, aleukemic megakaryocytic myelosis, and leukoerythroblastosis.
Myelofibrosis can be associated with many other conditions including breast cancer, prostate cancer, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, acute myelocytic leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, multiple myeloma, myeloproliferative diseases, tuberculosis, Gaucher's disease, and Paget's disease of bone. Myelofibrosis typically becomes progressively worse and can cause death.
In myelofibrosis, abnormal cells (hematopoietic stem cells) grow out of control and begin to produce both immature blood cells and excess scar (fibrous) tissue. The fibrous tissue builds up (fibrosis) primarily in the bone marrow, the place where blood cells are produced. The fibrous tissue interferes with the production of normal blood cells. The outcome of this is that the blood made by the bone marrow is of poor quality. To compensate for this, blood cell production occurs in other parts of the body (extramedullary hematopoiesis), but most notably in the spleen and liver. This causes enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly) and the liver (hepatomegaly). Extramedullary hematopoiesis is not effective and, combined with the reduced production of blood cells by the bone marrow, a condition called anemia results.
The abnormal stem cells can spread throughout the body, settle in other organs, and form tumors that produce more abnormal blood cells and fibrous tissue. These tumors are most commonly found in the adrenals, kidneys, lymph nodes, breast, lungs, skin, bowel, thymus, thyroid, prostate, and urinary tract.
Most patients with myelofibrosis are over 50 years old; the average age at diagnosis is 65 years. However, myelofibrosis can occur at any age. Myelofibrosis occurs with equal frequency in women and men, but in children it affects girls twice as often as it does boys.
Causes and symptoms
Myelofibrosis is caused by an abnormality in a single stem cell, which causes it to grow out of control. Myelofibrosis tumors that have originated from a single cell are called monoclonal. The cause of the stem cell
Symptoms usually appear slowly over a long period of time. About one quarter of all patients with myelofibrosis have no symptoms (asymptomatic). An enlarged spleen discovered at an annual medical examination may be the first clue. Symptoms of myelofibrosis include:
- weight loss
- heart palpitations
- shortness of breath
- feeling full after eating a small amount of food
- stomach pain or discomfort
- pain in the left shoulder or upper left portion of the body
- unexpected bleeding
- bone pain, especially in the legs
Because symptoms are similar to other diseases (mostly leukemias), myelofibrosis is not easy to diagnose. The doctor would use his or her hands to feel (palpate) for enlargement of the spleen and liver. Blood tests and urine tests would be performed. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy can help make a diagnosis, but they often fail because of the fibrosis. X-ray imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be performed.
Many asymptomatic patients, if stable, do not require treatment. There is no cure for myelofibrosis, although bone marrow transplantation is curative in some cases. Treatment is aimed at reducing symptoms and improving quality of life.
Male hormones (androgens) can be used to treat anemia but, in women, these drugs can cause the development of male characteristics (e.g., hair growth on the face and body). Glucocorticoid therapy is also an effective treatment of anemia and can improve myelofibrosis
In certain cases, the enlarged spleen may be removed (splenectomy). Conditions that warrant splenectomy include spleen pain, the need for frequent blood transfusion, very low levels of platelets (thrombocytopenia), and extreme pressure in the blood vessels of the liver (portal hypertension).
Radiation therapy is used to treat splenomegaly, spleen pain, bone pain, tumors in certain places such as next to the spinal cord, and fluid accumulation inside the abdomen (ascites). Patients who are not strong enough to undergo splenectomy are often treated with radiation therapy.
Bone marrow transplantation may be used to treat some patients with myelofibrosis. This procedure may be performed on patients who are less than 50 years old, have a poor life expectancy, and have a brother or sister with blood-type similarities.
Patients with severe anemia may require blood transfusions.
Similar to leukemias, myelofibrosis is progressive and often requires therapy to control the disease. Myelofibrosis can progress to acute lymphocytic leukemia or lymphoma. Although a number of factors to predict the survival time have been proposed, advanced age or severe anemia are consistently associated with a poor prognosis. The average survival rate of patients diagnosed with myelofibrosis is five years. Death is usually caused by infection, bleeding, complications of splenectomy, heart failure, or progression to leukemia. Spontaneous remission is rare.
Persons who have been exposed to radiation, benzene, or radioactive thorium dioxide (a chemical used during certain diagnostic radiological procedures) are at risk for myelofibrosis.
Lichtman, Marshall. "Idiopathic Myelofibrosis (Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia)." In Williams Hematology, edited by Ernest Beutler et al. New York: McGraw Hill, 2001, pp.1125-36.
Mavroudis, Dimitrios and John Barrett. "Myelofibrosis (Agno genic Myeloid Metaplasia)." In Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes, edited by Neal Young. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 2000, pp.122-34.
Peterson, Powers. "Myelofibrosis." In Practical Diagnosis of Hematologic Disorders, edited by Carl Kjeldsberg. Chicago: ASCP Press, 2000, pp.477-9.
Reilly, J.T. "Idiopathic Myelofibrosis: Pathogenesis, Natural History and Management." Blood Reviews 11 (1997): 233-42.
Belinda Rowland, Ph.D.
J. Ricker Polsdorfer, M.D.
—Low numbers of red blood cells in the blood.
—A colorless volatile flammable toxic liquid hydrocarbon used as a solvent and as a motor fuel.
—Surgical removal of tissue for microscopic examination.
—Buildup of scar tissue.
—Treatment using corticoids that are anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive.
—Cancer of white blood cells.
—Extreme pressure on the blood vessels of the liver.
—A cell that has the ability to become many different specialized cells.