This retrospective single-center study compared thromboembolic and hemorrha
gic complications, survival and causes of death in a cohort of 102 consecut
ive patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD). We included 17 patien
ts with essential thrombocythemia (ET), 59 with polycythemia vera (PV), and
26 with osteomyelofibrosis (OMF). The median follow-up was 3.7 years. Esti
mated 8-year probability of complications for the entire cohort was 80+/-11
% (95% confidence interval), without significant differences among MPD subg
roups. The rate of thromboembolic complications, expressed as the number of
events per 100 patient years, was 16.7 for patients with PV, 13.8 for OMF,
and 7.5 for ET. Fifty-four percent of thromboembolic events in PV involved
cerebral or limb arteries. The rate of bleeding complications was highest
in patients with OMF (31.8 per 100 patient years), followed by ET and PV (1
1.8). Ninety percent of bleeding episodes affected the skin, mucosal membra
nes, and the gastrointestinal tract. Eight-year survival was highest in ET
with 91+/-17%, followed by PV (66+/-18%) and OMF (40+/-31%) (P<0.01). Twent
y-four patients died during the observation period, and fatal thrombosis (i
n five patients) represented the leading cause of death. Only two patients
with MPD died from fatal hemorrhage and one from acute leukemia. We conclud
e that survival is highest in ET and lowest in OMF. Both thromboembolic and
hemorrhagic complications are frequent. However, thrombosis appears to be
more often fatal than bleeding complications. Prophylaxis of thromboembolic
events remains a key issue in the management of MPD.