What are the types of 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?

MPDs are a spectrum or family of disorders. There are three main types, called essential thrombocythaemia (ET), polycythaemia vera (PV) and myelofibrosis (MF).

These disorders are all serious and chronic conditions that affect the levels of blood cells in our bodies. The three disorders are linked and in some ways they overlap – however, people who have these disorders face different health risks depending on which MPD they have.

Essential thrombocythaemia If you have ET, your blood contains too many platelets, the blood cells that help the blood to clot.

Myelofibrosis Myelofibrosis is a disease that causes scarring (or fibrosis) in the bone marrow. If you have MF, your bone marrow may produce inadequate numbers of blood cells.

Polycythaemia vera If you have PV, your blood contains too many red cells, the cells that contain haemoglobin and carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. People with PV often produce excess white blood cells and platelets as well.