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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffAlthough the cause of myelofibrosis often isn't known, certain factors are known to increase your risk:
- Age. Myelofibrosis can affect anyone, but it's most often diagnosed in people between the ages of 50 and 80. The condition is usually rare in children with the exception of a form that tends to run in families.
- Genetic mutations. Some people with myelofibrosis have a mutation in the JAK2 gene or in the MPL gene.
- Exposure to toxins. In a few cases, myelofibrosis has been linked to exposure to carcinogenic chemicals such as thorium dioxide, toluene and benzene and to ionizing radiation.
- Exposure to contrast material. Some people who received an X-ray contrast material called Thorotrast in the 1930s and 1940s have since developed myelofibrosis.
References
- Tefferi A. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of primary myelofibrosis (agnogenic myeloid metaplasia). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 14, 2008.
- Tefferi A. Prognosis and treatment of primary myelofibrosis (agnogenic myeloid metaplasia). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 14, 2008.
- Tefferi A. Pathogenic mechanisms in primary myelofibrosis (anogenic myeloid metaplasia). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 14, 2008.
- Cervantes F. Modern management of myelofibrosis. British Journal of Haemotology. 2005;128(5):583-92.
- Papageorgiou SG, et al. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation as treatment for myelofibrosis. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2006;38(11):721-727.
- Idiopathic myelofibrosis. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/attachments/National/br_1190656475.pdf. Accessed Oct. 14, 2008.
- Chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/myeloproliferative/HealthProfessional/page5. Accessed Oct. 14, 2008.
- Myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia. MayoClinic.org. http://www.mayoclinic.org/myelofibrosis/treatment.html. Accessed Oct. 14, 2008.
- Reduced-intensity transplants. National Marrow Donor Program. http://www.marrow.org/PATIENT/Undrstnd_Disease_Treat/Undrstnd_Treat_Opt/Lrn_BMT_Cord/R_Intensity_Tx/index.html. Accessed Oct. 14, 2008.
