Effect of Anagrelide on JAK2 Mutational Status in Patients with Essential Thrombocythemia

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of anagrelide (ANA) in 9 of 22 patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) who had a JAK2 V617F mutation and polycythemia vera (PV)–like disease. First, we observed a successful reduction of JAK2 mutation, which was associated with disappearance of PV-like phenotype. Second, we found that a level of JAK2 mutation < 50% was associated with a response to ANA similar to that of JAK2-negative patients. These data indicate that ANA may reverse the JAK2 mutational status and provide a better prognosis in patients with ET.