Anaemia characterises patients with myelofibrosis harbouring MplW515L/K mutation

The clinical and haematological phenotype of patients with myelofibrosis harbouring MPL(W515L/K) mutation has not been thoroughly investigated. Of 217 myelofibrosis subjects, 18 (8.2%) had an MPL mutation, four of which (22%) co-existed with JAK2(V617F) mutation. When compared with MPL wild-type patients, irrespective of JAK2(V617F) status, those with MPL(W515L/K), were more frequently female, were older (61 years vs. 57 years; P = 0.02), presented with more severe anaemia (haemoglobin, 101 g/l vs. 121 g/l; P = 0.002) and were more likely to require regular transfusional support (P = 0.012). These data indicate that MPL mutation in myelofibrosis characterises patients with more severe anaemic phenotype.