Ivana Plameňová, Juraj Sokol, Juraj Chudej
Polycythaemia vera, essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis belong to the group of Philadelphia chromosomenegative myeloproliferative neoplasia (Ph-MPN). MPNs are clonal bone marrow stem cell disorders characterised by a proliferation of one or more of the myeloid, erythroid or megakaryocytic cell lines with typical clinical picture and finding in histologic examination of blood marrow. In 2005, a mutation in the JAK2 gene was discovered which helped to elucidate the pathogenetic mechanisms of MPN genesis. However, the treatment of MPN patients is still mainly palliative, focused on reducing of clinical symptoms. The review provides a general overview of MPN for general practitioners and internists.