Disease and treatment characteristics of polycythemia vera patients in Belgium: Results from a scientific survey

Objective The current survey aimed to gather predefined disease parameters and treatment strategies to characterize the polycythemia vera (PV) patient population in Belgium. Methods Cross‐sectional data from PV patients, seen at least once between May 2014 and May 2015 at 10 sites in Belgium, were c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of haematology 2018-04, Vol.100 (4), p.361-366
Main Authors: Devos, Timothy, Beguin, Yves, Noens, Lucien, Eygen, Koen, Zachée, Pierre, Mineur, Philippe, Knoops, Laurent, Doyen, Chantal, Theunissen, Koen, Benghiat, Fleur Samantha, Reusens, Michael, Pluymers, Wim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aspirin
Clinical trials
cytoreductive agents
Hematocrit
Hydroxyurea
JAK2 mutation
Leukocytes
myeloproliferative neoplasm
Patients
Polycythemia
Polycythemia vera
Prophylaxis
Spleen
Thrombosis
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Summary:Objective The current survey aimed to gather predefined disease parameters and treatment strategies to characterize the polycythemia vera (PV) patient population in Belgium. Methods Cross‐sectional data from PV patients, seen at least once between May 2014 and May 2015 at 10 sites in Belgium, were collected in aggregated form and analyzed descriptively and quantitatively. Results Data from 343 PV patients were collected. Of these, 174 (50.7%) were male and 256 (74.6%) were ≥60 years of age. Ninety‐two (26.8%) had a prior history of thrombotic events. Considerable proportions of patients had increased hematological parameters (hematocrit > 45% [31.2%], leukocytes > 10 × 109/L [33.3%], and platelet > 400 × 109/L [38.2%]). Most patients had non‐palpable spleen (284, 87.7%) and no phlebotomies during the past 6 months (197, 57.4%). Low‐dose aspirin was given as thrombosis prophylaxis in 249 (72.6%) patients, while 232 (67.6%) received hydroxyurea (HU) as cytoreductive treatment. Forty‐one patients (12.0%) were reported as resistant and/or intolerant to HU. Seventeen patients (5.0%) received ruxolitinib in the context of clinical trials. Conclusion This survey provides better insight into the characteristics of Belgian PV patients and currently used treatment strategies. It shows that 232 (67.6%) PV patients continue to receive HU despite being potentially HU‐resistant.
ISSN:0902-4441
1600-0609
DOI:10.1111/ejh.13022