Is myeloproliferative disease serious?
Myeloproliferative diseases are generally quite serious.
Myeloproliferative diseases refer to disorders caused by excessive proliferation of cells in the bone marrow. They are a type of neoplastic disorder originating from hematopoietic stem cells, characterized by widespread hyperplasia of bone marrow cells, with one particular cell line showing marked and continuous overproduction. When a specific cell lineage becomes excessively abundant, complications such as vascular occlusion may occur. Mild cases may involve superficial vessel blockage, while severe cases can lead to occlusion in critical vessels such as those in the heart or brain, potentially threatening life. Therefore, these conditions are considered serious. However, with proper medical treatment and stable disease control, patients' life expectancy is generally not significantly affected.
In addition, myeloproliferative diseases can cause clonal dominance of abnormal hematopoietic stem cells, impairing normal blood cell production and leading to severe deficiencies—such as anemia. These disorders may also predispose patients to infectious complications, resulting in persistent high fever and multi-organ damage. Common diseases associated with myeloproliferative disorders include essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera, and chronic myeloid leukemia.