Staging of idiopathic myelofibrosis. Significance of haemoglobin value and reticulocyte count.

A retrospective analysis of 18 patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) suggested that IMF is adequately staged by combining haemoglobin value and reticulocyte count. Four stages were recognized. All deaths occurred in late stage. The stages appeared to reflect a sequential course of the disease. The present staging system adequately identified patients at high risk. However, the rate of disease progress varied greatly. It is therefore suggested that the rate of disease progress should also be considered when an individual patient is evaluated.