Chronic myeloproliferative disease (MPD), unclassifiable

Doctors use this diagnosis if you have features of more than one MPD. Usually with time a single diagnosis becomes obvious. Unfortunately undergoing many tests may be necessary. Problems that may occur with an unclassifiable MPD include clotting and bleeding. In the long term there is a chance of myelofibrosis (stiffening or scaring of the bone marrow) or of developing acute leukaemia.

Treatments include these other MPDs range from aspirin, removing a pint of blood (venesection) and taking various medications to control the blood count. These include for example hydroxyurea, busulphan, melphalan, radioactive phosphorus, interferon alpha and anagrelide (see above).

Myeloproliferative/Myelodysplastic, unclassified

If a patient shows evidence of both a myeloproliferative disease and production of faulty blood cells or myelodysplasia, their doctor will probably diagnose them as having this disease.   Over time, however, most patients will be reclassified as having another myeloproliferative or myelodysplastic condition. Some problems that may occur with MPD, unclassifiable include clotting and bleeding.  In the long term, there is a chance of myelofibrosis (stiffening or scaring of the bone marrow) or acute leukaemia. Myelodysplasia can cause problems due to low blood counts.  These problems include infections, anaemia and/or bleeding.  Treatment is aimed at controlling these problems.  Sometimes doctors may prescribe hormomes (or cytokines) to boost the patient’s blood count. When the myelodysplasia reaches an advanced stage, it behaves like a form of acute leukaemia.

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