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Myelofibrosis is a medical condition, where fibrous tissues can replace the precursors cells, which are producing normal bone marrow blood cells, causing abnormally shaped red blood cell, enlarged spleen, and anemia. In this disorder, defected precursor cells stimulate the fibroblast to form too much fibrous tissues, which crowd out the blood-producing cells. With reduced red blood cell production, fewer number of red blood cells are released into the blood, and anemia develops. Many of these cells are misshapen and immature. Platelets and white blood cells can also be misshapen, and there can be too few or too many of them. Usually, fibrous tissues replace so much of the bone marrow that productions of all blood cells are decreased. When it occurs, the anemia becomes severe, the decreased count of white blood cells cannot fight infection, and the lowered count of platelets may not prevent bleeding. In some cases, myelofibrosis accompanies polycythemia vera, leukemia, bone infections, tuberculosis, lymphoma, and multiple myelomas. Individuals, who had been exposed to specific substances including radiation and Benzene are at higher risk of getting myelofibrosis. The disease is common in individuals between ages of 50-70. Because myelofibrosis usually develops slowly, patients with this disease survive for 10 or more years. Sometimes this disease develops rapidly. This type, known as acute myelofibrosis or malignant myelofibrosis, and is a form of leukemia. Frequently, the disorder shows no symptoms for several years. Usually, the anemia makes patients tired and weak; they lose weight and do not feel well. The enlarged liver and spleen can result in abdominal pain. The immature, misshapen, red blood cell is discovered in the blood sample tested under the microsecope, and anemia may suspect myelofibrosis, but a biopsy obtained from bone marrow is required to confirm the disease. No available treatment may permanently slow the development of myelofibrosis or effectively reverse it, but anticancer medicine Hydroxyurea can decrease spleen or liver size. Cure goal is delaying complications. In selected cases, transplant of bone marrow can offer hope. In some patients, productions of red blood cells may be stimulated by using erythropoietin, but in other patients, blood transfusion is required to cure the anemia.
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