Dr. Rossetti on Symptom Management for MPNs

James M. Rossetti, DO, hematologist, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, discusses symptom management for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

Symptom management largely relates to the disease that the person has, explains Rossetti. The patient needs to have their symptoms assessed to see which ones might be related to the disease. According to Rossetti, many patients with MPNs feel they do not receive an accurate diagnosis for several years with vague symptoms. Even low-risk disease can cause significant symptoms, including cytokine release syndrome and others.

Some agents, such as ruxolitinib (Jakafi), help with symptom management in patients with myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera. Aspirin can also manage many symptoms, according to Rossetti. Ultimately, looking at other antiplatelet therapies and looking at new agents might help patients with MPNs with their symptoms, concludes Rossetti.