This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Clinical features

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Clinical features of myelofibrosis include:

  • majority of the patients are over age 60 years at the time of diagnosis (1)
  • around 33% are asymptomatic at presentation (1)
  • progression is insidious - patients commonly present with fatigue and weakness due to anaemia; or because of abdominal fullness and early satiety due to splenomegaly
  • spleen is often massively enlarged -
  • is a characteristic finding (1)
  • seen in 90% of the patients at presentation (2)
  • can be massive in some patients (>10kg) (3)
  • symptoms include - pain, abdominal bloating, early satiety, difficulty with bending or routine activities or back pain due to altered centre of balance
  • splenic sequestration in splenomegaly may cause or exacerbate myelofibrosis associated cytopenias (3)
  • hepatomegaly occurs in over half of cases

With progressive fibrosis of bone marrow there may be:

  • severe anaemia - necessitating transfusion
  • bleeding - due to thrombocytopenia
  • respiratory pain - due to perisplenitis secondary to splenic infarction
  • severe bone pain, especially in the lower legs
  • hyperuricaemia and gout - from rapid blood cell turnover
  • cachexia

Reference:

Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page