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Sequential combination of thalidomide and erythropoietin determines transfusion independence and disease control in idiopathic myelofibrosis previously insensitive to both drugs used as single agents

Leukemia volume 17, pages 1669–1670 (2003)Cite this article

TO THE EDITOR

Idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by bone marrow fibrosis, extramedullary hematopoiesis, splenomegaly, anemia and peripheral blood leukoerythroblastosis. The stromal proliferation is a reactive phenomenon, caused by intramedullary release of cytokines such as platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta, basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor and calmodulin.1

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by AIL Pesaro ONLUS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, San Salvatore Hospital, Pesaro, Italy

    G Visani & A Mele

  2. Institute of Hematology and Clinical Oncology ‘Seragnoli’, S. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    M Malagola, A Isidori, C Finelli & P P Piccaluga

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  1. G Visani
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  2. A Mele
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  3. M Malagola
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  4. A Isidori
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  5. C Finelli
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  6. P P Piccaluga
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Visani, G., Mele, A., Malagola, M. et al. Sequential combination of thalidomide and erythropoietin determines transfusion independence and disease control in idiopathic myelofibrosis previously insensitive to both drugs used as single agents. Leukemia 17, 1669–1670 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2403017

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