BACKGROUND: We sought to determine the prognostic relevance of aberrant serum lipid values in the myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) of primary myelofibrosis (PMF), polycythemia vera (PV), and essential thrombocythemia (ET).

METHODS: The Mayo MPD patient institutional database was queried to identify clinical history and lipid profiles (within a year of diagnosis). Serum cholesterol (CHOL), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TRI) were assessed compared to clinical outcomes.

RESULTS: 558 patients with MPDs (PMF 28%, PV 27%, and ET 45%) (median age at diagnosis of 56 (range18–81)) were identified. A lipid profile obtained a median of 0.0 months from diagnosis (range (-8 to 12 months) from MPD patients displayed low CHOL, LDL-C, and higher HDL-C than typical for the USA. Amongst MPD disease types PMF patients had lower CHOL (p<0.001) and HDL (p<0.001) compared to ET and PV (see table).

Amongst PMF patients, although hypocholesterolemia was not a surrogate for malnutrition (p=0.13) median serum albumin 4.1 g/dL (range 2.7–4.8)), there was correlation with the presence of weight loss, hypercatabolic symptoms, and worse Mayo-CBC myelofibrosis prognostic scores (

Cancer
2006
;
106
:
623
; p<0.01). Amongst the study group PMF patients had the poorest survival (followed by PV then ET; p<0.001). Decreased cholesterol (CHOL <150mg/dL, or HDL <60 mg/dL) was associated with decreased survival (P<0.001), but only in PMF patients (see figure).

Decreased PMF survival was also associated with traditional PMF risk factors of hemoglobin <10g/dL, leukocytes <4 or >30 × 10(9)/L, platelets <100 × 10(9)/L, and circulating blasts. In multivariate analysis (Cox-Proportional Hazard) only the Mayo-CBC score, hemoglobin <10g/dL, circulating blasts and decreased CHOL remained significant for decreased survival (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The presence of hypocholesterolemia is very common in patients with PMF and is independently associated with inferior survival.

Survival by HDL-C and Serum Cholesterol (CHOL) in 154 patient’s with Primary Myelofibrosis
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Survival by HDL-C and Serum Cholesterol (CHOL) in 154 patient’s with Primary Myelofibrosis

Survival by HDL-C and Serum Cholesterol (CHOL) in 154 patient’s with Primary Myelofibrosis
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Survival by HDL-C and Serum Cholesterol (CHOL) in 154 patient’s with Primary Myelofibrosis

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Lipid Distributions in 558 MPD patients

VALUE/ NCEP CATEGORYPMF (N=154)PV (N=149)ET (N=255)NHANES (USA MEANS;95th CI)
NCEP: National Cholesterol Education Program: NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (values for all races ages 65–74) 
Serum Cholesterol (Median) 149 mg/dL 179 mg/dL 199 mg/dL 221 mg/dL (153–301) 
−>200mg/dl (Desirable) 10% 31% 48%  
−150–200mg/dL (Desirable) 39% 25% 41%  
−100–149mg/dL (Desirable) 41% 41% 9%  
−<100mg/dL (Low) 10% 3% 2%  
LDL Cholesterol (Median) 33 mg/dL 41 mg/dL 49 mg/dL 149 mg/dL (87–217) 
−>100mg/dL (Low to high risk) 1% 1% 1%  
−<100mg/dL (Optimal) 99% 99% 99%  
HDL Cholesterol (Median) 79 mg/dL 118 mg/dL 108 mg/dL 45.7 mg/dL (29–71) 
−>60mg/dL (Optimal) 74% 90% 91%  
−40–60mg/dL (Normal) 16% 10% 8%  
−<40mg/dL (Low) 10% 0% 1%  
Triglycerides (Median) 151 mg/dL 89 mg/dL 116 mg/dL 145 mg/dL (62–285) 
−>200mg/dL (High) 28% 0% 3%  
−150–199mg/dL (Borderline) 23% 6% 14%  
−<150mg/dL (low) 49% 94%% 83%  
VALUE/ NCEP CATEGORYPMF (N=154)PV (N=149)ET (N=255)NHANES (USA MEANS;95th CI)
NCEP: National Cholesterol Education Program: NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (values for all races ages 65–74) 
Serum Cholesterol (Median) 149 mg/dL 179 mg/dL 199 mg/dL 221 mg/dL (153–301) 
−>200mg/dl (Desirable) 10% 31% 48%  
−150–200mg/dL (Desirable) 39% 25% 41%  
−100–149mg/dL (Desirable) 41% 41% 9%  
−<100mg/dL (Low) 10% 3% 2%  
LDL Cholesterol (Median) 33 mg/dL 41 mg/dL 49 mg/dL 149 mg/dL (87–217) 
−>100mg/dL (Low to high risk) 1% 1% 1%  
−<100mg/dL (Optimal) 99% 99% 99%  
HDL Cholesterol (Median) 79 mg/dL 118 mg/dL 108 mg/dL 45.7 mg/dL (29–71) 
−>60mg/dL (Optimal) 74% 90% 91%  
−40–60mg/dL (Normal) 16% 10% 8%  
−<40mg/dL (Low) 10% 0% 1%  
Triglycerides (Median) 151 mg/dL 89 mg/dL 116 mg/dL 145 mg/dL (62–285) 
−>200mg/dL (High) 28% 0% 3%  
−150–199mg/dL (Borderline) 23% 6% 14%  
−<150mg/dL (low) 49% 94%% 83%  
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Topics:
fasting lipid profile, hypocholesterolemia, myelofibrosis, idiopathic, chronic, myeloproliferative disease, weight reduction, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum cholesterol measurement, high density lipoproteins, ldl cholesterol lipoproteins, hemoglobin

Author notes

Disclosure: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

2007, The American Society of Hematology
2007
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