Outcome
Primary myelofibrosis is a disease of variable outcomes and those outcomes are dependent on various factors including age, type of genetic abnormalities and the severity of cellular deficiencies. Overall about fifth of patients survive for more than 10 years. This outcome can be drastically improved with successful therapy especially stem cell transplantation. The main causes of death due to myelofibrosis are infections -due to the decreased white blood cells-, hemorrhage -due to the deficient platelets or DIC- and leukemic transformation.
As mentioned before, myeloproliferative neoplasms are genetically cancers and conversion of myelofibrosis to acute leukemia occurs in about 8%-23% of patients. With all that said, hope of a better cure for myelofibrosis is in the works and genetic therapy is taking long strides that we won’t be surprised if therapy as effective as that of chronic myeloid leukemia will be available for myelofibrosis within the next 10 years.