Information and Support for MPD's

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This website is for anyone who is involved with a person with a Myeloproliferative Disease, consisting of:

Polycythemia Vera --  Polycythemia vera, a disease of the hematopoietic stem cells (cells that give rise to blood cells) is characterized by the overproduction of red blood cells by the bone marrow. This overproduction can lead to thickening of the blood, which can impair the function of the heart or the brain.

Essential Thrombocythemia --  Essential thrombocythemia (also called primary thrombocythemia), a disease that results in the overproduction of platelets by the bone marrow, generally affects people over 50. (Elevated numbers of platelets can also occur as a result of infection, iron deficiency, and other secondary causes.)

Myelofibrosis --  Myelofibrosis is a disorder in which fibroblasts, cells that are found in the bone marrow, produce too much fibrous or scar tissue within the bone-marrow space. When this happens, blood-producing cells are produced in fewer numbers and can be destroyed more rapidly, resulting in anemia, low platelet count, and a tendency to develop infections. The disease, which is most common in people between the ages of 50 and 70, often produces few symptoms initially, but when anemia develops, they may include fatigue and weakness and abdominal pain from an enlarged spleen. Myelofibrosis can occur by itself or in association with myeloproliferative diseases such as essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia, or in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or acute myeloid leukemia.

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 Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia --Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is an uncommon type of cancer of the blood cells. It's considered chronic leukemia because it usually progresses more slowly than acute leukemia, sometimes over the course of years.  ( http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chronic-myelogenous-leukemia/DS00564)