Thrombosis Risk Rises in Women With Myeloproliferative Disorders

ORLANDO – Thrombosis was significantly more prevalent in women, compared with men, in a review of data from 270 adults with JAK2 V617-F–positive myeloproliferative disorder, according to a poster at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

[Check out our comprehensive coverage of the American Society of Hematology's annual meeting.]

Vascular complications were identified in 29% of women vs. 18% of men in a cohort of patients seen at the center for myeloproliferative disorders of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said Dr. Brady L. Stein of Northwestern University in Chicago and colleagues.

On average, the women were significantly younger (53 years vs. 57 years) and significantly less likely to smoke, compared with men (22% vs. 39%), which made the findings surprising, Dr. Stein noted. "This analysis supports the importance of individual variation on the thrombotic manifestations of the myeloproliferative disorder," he wrote.

Overall, 16 of 20 abdominal venous thrombotic events occurred in women, as did 11 of 12 abdominal venous thrombotic events in polycythemia vera, 6 of 7 cerebrovascular accidents, and 8 of 11 transient ischemic attacks.

However, significantly more men than women had vascular complications at or within 5 years of diagnosis (70% vs. 43%).

Women had a significantly lower incidence of dyslipidemia than did men (9% vs. 25%; P = .001) and a lower white blood cell count (9.5 x 103 mcL vs. 13.2 x 103 mcL; P = .017). Of nine patients who experienced multiple events, six were women.

No sex differences were noted in thrombosis prevalence based on disease class. Aspirin use, cytoreduction, and disease duration were not significantly different between men and women.

The results suggest that women are paradoxically at greater risk for thrombosis in myeloproliferative disorders, the investigators wrote, but more research is needed to determine the mechanism of action.

The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

ORLANDO – Thrombosis was significantly more prevalent in women, compared with men, in a review of data from 270 adults with JAK2 V617-F–positive myeloproliferative disorder, according to a poster at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

[Check out our comprehensive coverage of the American Society of Hematology's annual meeting.]

Vascular complications were identified in 29% of women vs. 18% of men in a cohort of patients seen at the center for myeloproliferative disorders of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said Dr. Brady L. Stein of Northwestern University in Chicago and colleagues.

On average, the women were significantly younger (53 years vs. 57 years) and significantly less likely to smoke, compared with men (22% vs. 39%), which made the findings surprising, Dr. Stein noted. "This analysis supports the importance of individual variation on the thrombotic manifestations of the myeloproliferative disorder," he wrote.

Overall, 16 of 20 abdominal venous thrombotic events occurred in women, as did 11 of 12 abdominal venous thrombotic events in polycythemia vera, 6 of 7 cerebrovascular accidents, and 8 of 11 transient ischemic attacks.

However, significantly more men than women had vascular complications at or within 5 years of diagnosis (70% vs. 43%).

Women had a significantly lower incidence of dyslipidemia than did men (9% vs. 25%; P = .001) and a lower white blood cell count (9.5 x 103 mcL vs. 13.2 x 103 mcL; P = .017). Of nine patients who experienced multiple events, six were women.

No sex differences were noted in thrombosis prevalence based on disease class. Aspirin use, cytoreduction, and disease duration were not significantly different between men and women.

The results suggest that women are paradoxically at greater risk for thrombosis in myeloproliferative disorders, the investigators wrote, but more research is needed to determine the mechanism of action.

The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

ORLANDO – Thrombosis was significantly more prevalent in women, compared with men, in a review of data from 270 adults with JAK2 V617-F–positive myeloproliferative disorder, according to a poster at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

[Check out our comprehensive coverage of the American Society of Hematology's annual meeting.]

Vascular complications were identified in 29% of women vs. 18% of men in a cohort of patients seen at the center for myeloproliferative disorders of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said Dr. Brady L. Stein of Northwestern University in Chicago and colleagues.

On average, the women were significantly younger (53 years vs. 57 years) and significantly less likely to smoke, compared with men (22% vs. 39%), which made the findings surprising, Dr. Stein noted. "This analysis supports the importance of individual variation on the thrombotic manifestations of the myeloproliferative disorder," he wrote.

Overall, 16 of 20 abdominal venous thrombotic events occurred in women, as did 11 of 12 abdominal venous thrombotic events in polycythemia vera, 6 of 7 cerebrovascular accidents, and 8 of 11 transient ischemic attacks.

However, significantly more men than women had vascular complications at or within 5 years of diagnosis (70% vs. 43%).

Women had a significantly lower incidence of dyslipidemia than did men (9% vs. 25%; P = .001) and a lower white blood cell count (9.5 x 103 mcL vs. 13.2 x 103 mcL; P = .017). Of nine patients who experienced multiple events, six were women.

No sex differences were noted in thrombosis prevalence based on disease class. Aspirin use, cytoreduction, and disease duration were not significantly different between men and women.

The results suggest that women are paradoxically at greater risk for thrombosis in myeloproliferative disorders, the investigators wrote, but more research is needed to determine the mechanism of action.

The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.