Treatment of thromboembolic events coincident with the diagnosis of myeloproliferative neoplasms: A physician survey

The BCR-ABL1 negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are associated with an increased risk of both venous and arterial thromboembolic events. Thromboses may be the presenting clinical feature of an MPN or may occur during the course of the disease. Treatment comprises anticoagulant and antiaggregant agents as in non- MPN thromboses, and treatment of the particular MPN. The duration of anticoagulant treatment that is required for MPN thrombosis is unknown. This study was performed to survey the opinion of hematologists who treat patients with MPN regarding the duration of anticoagulation or antiaggregant therapy in patients in whom thrombosis is the presenting feature of MPN. Five clinical scenarios in which thromboembolism (cerebral vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, cerebrovascular accident, splanchnic vein thrombosis, portal vein thrombosis) was a presenting feature of MPN were created using a web-based tool and were sent by email to hematologists in Israel, Italy and England and to hematologists identified as key opinion leaders in the field of MPN. Physicians were asked to recommend duration of anticoagulation and/or aspirin use choosing from 4 alternatives provided. Seventy-three physicians responded to the survey. 42 physicians considered MPNs to be their main area of clinical interest, and 31 did not. 21 physicians saw more than 20 MPN patients per week, and 50 physicians had been in hematology practice for more than 10 years. Responses regarding the duration of anticoagulation and/or the use of aspirin varied for all of the clinical vignettes. Neither physician area-of-interest, volume of MPN patients treated nor years in practice were related to the responses obtained. This study demonstrates that hematologists, including those specializing in MPNs, lack consensus in their approach to the long-term treatment of thromboses as the presenting feature of an MPN. Controlled clinical studies are needed to inform appropriate decision making in this area.