About MPDs

• What do blood counts mean?
• What are MPDs?
• What causes MPDs?
• What are the types of MPDs?
• Essential thrombocythaemia
• Myelofibrosis
• Polycythaemia vera
• Wondering about terms?

Myeloproliferative disorders (also called myeloproliferative neoplasms) are a spectrum of disorders, ranging from mild to more aggressive conditions. There are three main types of MPDs called essential thrombocythaemia, polycythaemia vera and myelofibrosis. MPDs are rare: people with MPDs number just one in 100,000. And they can strike people of any age, even children. The three MPDs are distinct diseases but they have one feature in common – they affect the levels of blood cells produced in our bodies.

• What do blood counts mean?

  Full blood counts show how your bone marrow is working.

• What are MPDs?

  People with MPDs can have high or sometimes low blood cell counts.

• What causes MPDs?

  We don't know exactly what causes MPDs - but genetic mutations seem to play a role.

• What are the types of MPDs?

  Essential thrombocythaemia, polycythaemia vera and myelofibrosis are the three most common MPDs.

• Essential thrombocythaemia

  ET causes a raised platelet count in people who have this disorder.

• Myelofibrosis

  Myelofibrosis causes scar tissue to grow inside the bone marrow.

• Polycythaemia vera

  If you have PV your bone marrow produces too many red blood cells.

• Wondering about terms?

  Terms can be confusing. Our glossary can help improve your understanding.