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Myeloproliferative Neoplasms in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults

  • Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (B Stein, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Myeloproliferative neoplasms are traditionally seen in older adults, making them poorly understood in younger patients. Clinical presentation, genetic landscape, outcomes, and best management practices are inadequately described in this group. Over the past decade, more research has focused on younger patients, and this paper seeks to review and describe the current status of the field.

Recent Findings

A recent review analyzed the available pediatric MPN literature and highlighted the paucity of published data. Pediatric patients showed lower rates of the common mutations found in adults, thrombotic events, and disease transformation to myelofibrosis and acute leukemia. A number of centers have recently shared their experience with young adult patients. Better survival outcomes were confirmed for young adult patients compared to older patients.

Summary

There is still much to learn about myeloproliferative neoplasms in pediatric and young adult patients, but currently available data showing better outcomes is reassuring.

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks Andrew I. Schafer, MD, and Naveen Pemmaraju, MD, for their input on this paper. NK receives support from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (USA), under award #K23HL127223.

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Correspondence to Nicole Kucine.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

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Kucine, N. Myeloproliferative Neoplasms in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 15, 141–148 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11899-020-00571-8

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