The chronic myeloproliferative disorders: an historical perspective.

To comprehend the present and chart an informed course for the future, it is essential to be aware of the past. Fifty years ago, William Dameshek introduced the conceptual construct of myeloproliferative disorders, a watershed event in the evolution of thought regarding that peculiar cluster of similar marrow conditions. The four major disorders that comprise the myeloproliferative group, polycythemia vera, chronic myeloid leukemia, myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia, and essential thrombocythemia, have interesting and instructive histories. This narrative review explores some of the most noteworthy episodes in those stories, from first descriptions to current understanding.