MPN in the guise of nutritional deficiency

MPN in the guise of nutritional deficiency

Blog Article

The Classic BCR-ABL-negative Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) which include Polycythemia vera (PV), Essential thrombocythemia (ET), and Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF) are among the most frequent hematologic neoplasms.Because of their relatively smooth clinical course, it is likely that many of these MPN actually go undetected.Considering the high prevalence of iron, folic-acid and Vitamin B12 deficiencies in developing countries, their coexistence with MPN can be expected frequently.In such situations where both disorders coexist, the chances of missing the MPN is more likely.In this article, six cases of classic MPN with concomitant nutritional deficiencies have been discussed.

These include four cases of PMF, of whom the first two SHOVEL cases had coexisting Vitamin B12 deficiency, third case had severe iron deficiency and fourth case had combined deficiencies of iron and folic acid.A case of ET and another case Ottomans of PV, both with concurrent iron deficiency have also been presented.With the exception of the case with PV, all others tested negative for JAK2 V617 mutation.Unlike MPN, diagnosis of nutritional deficiencies is simple and straight forward.As patients show considerable clinical improvement subsequent to treating the deficiencies, further diagnostic investigations are commonly held back.

As a result, the underlying MPN goes undetected.Bearing in mind the possibility of MPN, even in the setting of apparent nutritional deficiency was the crucial step that led to diagnosis of MPN in the cases discussed.