|  | | |  | Disease Name; |
Myelofibrosis
| Synonyms; |
Agnogenic myeloid metaplastia
| Description; |
Myelofibrosis (also called agnogenic myeloid metaplasia) is a myeloproliferative disorder in which the bone marrow is initially over-active but then develops scar tissue (fibrosis). The term idiopathic means without known cause and differentiates this form of myelofibrosis from secondary myelofibrosis which may complicate other bone marrow diseases. Normal bone marrow has a very fine network of fibres supporting the blood forming tissues. In myelofibrosis this network is coarsened and thickened so that normal blood cell production is progressively reduced. As a result blood cell production begins to take place in the liver and spleen which become enlarged. These are both tissues which produce blood cells in the embryo but lose this function before birth. The production of blood cells in the liver and spleen is less efficient and so patients frequently develop anaemia.
Last updated 22/01/2010 |
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