POSTPOLYCYTHEMIA MYELOID METAPLASIA - EXPERIENCE WITH A LARGE COHORT OF PATIENTS

The common origin of myeloproliferative disorders can explain the poss ible evolution of polycythemia vera to post-polycythemia myeloid metap lasia (PPMM). Such a possible event is usually considered linked to th e use of myelosuppressive agents in particular P-32. Occasionally, mye lofibrosis following essential thrombocythemia has also been described . We report here 19 cases of post-polycythemia myeloid metaplasia out of 214 polycythemia vera patients (8.8%). The majority of these patien ts received P-32 therapy. However, busulfan also seems to have some ro le in the modification of polycythemia vera. In particular, the associ ation of more than one myelosuppressive agent may favour the evolution to PPMM.