Pathophysiology of thrombosis in myeloproliferative neoplasms

Life expectancy of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and particularly that of subjects with polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) has significantly increased over the last three decades, largely due to the use of cytoreductive treatments. Currently, polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia are considered relatively benign diseases in which the main objective of treatment strategy is the prevention of thrombotic events. Widespread use of routine hematologic screening and novel diagnostic tools greatly facilitate disease recognition and treatment.