Response criteria for essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera: result of a European LeukemiaNet consensus conference

• Published in: Blood Vol. 113; no. 20; pp. 4829 - 4833
• Main Authors: Barosi, Giovanni, Birgegard, Gunnar, Finazzi, Guido, Griesshammer, Martin, Harrison, Claire, Hasselbalch, Hans Carl, Kiladjian, Jean-Jacques, Lengfelder, Eva, McMullin, Mary Frances, Passamonti, Francesco, Reilly, John T., Vannucchi, Alessandro M., Barbui, Tiziano
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Elsevier Inc 14-05-2009; Americain Society of Hematology
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Consensus; Diseases of red blood cells; Europe; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Medical sciences; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Polycythemia Vera - diagnosis; Polycythemia Vera - therapy; Polycythemias; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Prognosis; Remission Induction; Societies, Medical - organization & administration; Thrombocythemia, Essential - diagnosis; Thrombocythemia, Essential - therapy; Europe; Myeloproliferative syndrome; Consensus conference; Essential thrombocythemia; Hematology; Polycythemia vera; Malignant hemopathy; Cancer
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood-2008-09-176818

European experts were convened to develop a definition of response to treatment in polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET). Clinicohematologic (CH), molecular, and histologic response categories were selected. In ET, CH complete response (CR) was: platelet count less than or equal to 400 × 109/L, no disease-related symptoms, normal spleen size, and white blood cell count less than or equal to 10 × 109/L. Platelet count less than or equal to 600 × 109/L or a decrease greater than 50% was partial response (PR). In PV, CH-CR was: hematocrit less than 45% without phlebotomy, platelet count less than or equal to 400 × 109/L, white blood cell count less than or equal to 10 × 109/L, and no disease-related symptoms. A hematocrit less than 45% without phlebotomy or response in 3 or more of the other criteria was defined as PR. In both ET and in PV, molecular CR was a reduction of any molecular abnormality to undetectable levels. Molecular PR was defined as a reduction more than or equal to 50% in patients with less than 50% mutant allele burden, or a reduction more than or equal to 25% in patients with more than 50% mutant allele burden. Bone marrow histologic response in ET was judged on megakaryocyte hyperplasia while on cellularity and reticulin fibrosis in PV. The combined use of these response definitions should help standardize the design and reporting of clinical studies.