New drugs: Ruxolitinib

摘要

Myelofibrosis can present as a primary disease or develop from polycythaemia vera or essential thrombocythaemia. It is characterised by fibrosis of the bone marrow, progressive anaemia and hepatospienomegaly from overproduction of abnormal, immature blood cells. Survival of patients after diagnosis ranges from 2 to 11 years. Apart from stem cell transplant, current treatment is usually supportive and directed at symptoms.