Great question! The terms are closely related, but there is an important distinction between them.
Myelofibrosis (MF) is the broader term. It refers to a condition where scar tissue builds up in the bone marrow, making it harder to produce healthy blood cells. MF can develop in two ways:
- Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) — Show Full Answer
Great question! The terms are closely related, but there is an important distinction between them.
Myelofibrosis (MF) is the broader term. It refers to a condition where scar tissue builds up in the bone marrow, making it harder to produce healthy blood cells. MF can develop in two ways:
- Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) — develops on its own, without a known prior cause
- Secondary myelofibrosis — develops as a result of another MPN, such as polycythemia vera (PV) or essential thrombocythemia (ET) The good news is that the symptoms and treatments for both primary and secondary myelofibrosis are generally the same, so the distinction mainly helps doctors understand the origin of the condition rather than changing how it's managed day-to-day.
If you're unsure which type applies to your situation, your hematologist is the best person to clarify that based on your history and test results.
October 17
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