The epidemiology and clinical characteristics of myeloproliferative neoplasms in Malaysia

• Published in: Experimental hematology & oncology 2018-12, Vol.7 (1), p.31-31, Article 31
• Main Authors: Yap, Yee Yee, Law, Kian Boon, Sathar, Jameela, Lau, Ngee Siang, Goh, Ai Sim, Chew, Teng Keat, Lim, Soo Min, Menon, Padmini, Guan, Yong Khee, Husin, Azlan Bin, Wong, Lily Lee Lee, Chew, Lee Ping, Salleh, Sinari, Goh, Kim Yen, Leong, Kin Wah, Tan, Sen Mui, Ong, Tee Chuan, Lim, Su Hong, Toh, See Guan, Han, Xavier Sim Yoon, Edmund, Syed Carlo, Tan, Jenq Tzong, Chang, Kian Meng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2162-3619; 2162-3619
• DOI: 10.1186/s40164-018-0124-7

The evolution of molecular studies in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) has enlightened us the understanding of this complex disease consisting of polycythaemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The epidemiology is well described in the western world but not in Asian countries like Malaysia. This retrospective national registry of MPN was conducted from year 2009 to 2015 in Malaysia. A total of 1010 patients were registered over a period of 5 years. The mean age was 54 years with male predominance. The ethnic distribution revealed that Chinese had a relatively high weighted incidence proportion (43.2%), followed by Indian (23.8%), Malay (15.8%) and other ethnic groups (17.2%). The types of MPN reported were 40.4% of ET (n = 408), 38.1% of PV (n = 385), 9.2% of PMF (n = 93), 3.1% of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) (n = 31) and 7.9% of unclassifiable MPN (MPN-U) (n = 80). Splenomegaly was only palpable clinically in 32.2% of patients. The positive JAK2 V617F mutation was present in 644 patients with 46.6% in PV, 36.0% in ET, 9.0% in PMF, and 7.4% in MPN-U, and had significantly lower haemoglobin (p