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The Effect of Anabolic Steroids on Anemia in Myelofibrosis with Myeloid Metaplasia: Retrospective Analysis of 39 Patients in Japan

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Abstract

Between 1999 and 2005,285 patients received new diagnoses of myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) in Japan. Anemic symptoms were present in 162 patients, and hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were <10 g/dL in 197 patients. Fifty-five MMM patients were treated with anabolic steroids, and their effect on anemia during MMM was evaluated in 39 patients. A “good” response was defined as an Hb increase of ≥1.5 g/dL, cessation of transfusion dependence, and an Hb concentration of >10 g/dL maintained for at least 8 weeks. A “minimum” response was defined as an Hb increase of ≥1.5 g/dL and transfusion independence for at least 8 weeks. Both good and minimum responses were considered “favorable.” Favorable responses were achieved in 17 patients (44%, 8 good and 9 minimum responses). None of the pretreatment variables, such as the lack of transfusion dependence, a higher Hb concentration at the start of treatment, or the absence of cytogenetic abnormalities, were associated with a response to anabolic steroid therapy. Adverse events associated with anabolic steroid therapy were moderate and transient. Two patients required definitive withdrawal of treatment. Thus, anabolic steroids are well tolerated and effective for the treatment of anemia in a subset of MMM patients.

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Author notes

  1. Kazuya Shimoda & Kotaro Shide

    Present address: Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Miyazaki University, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, 889-1692, Miyazaki, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan

    Kazuya Shimoda, Kotaro Shide, Kenjirou Kamezaki, Naoki Harada & Mine Harada

  2. Department of Hematology, Kurume University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Takashi Okamura

  3. Department of Medical Information Science, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan

    Naoko Kinukawa

  4. Department of Hematology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan

    Kazuma Ohyashiki

  5. Chihaya Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan

    Yoshiyuki Niho

  6. Saitama Prefecture Red Cross Blood Center, Saitama, Japan

    Hideaki Mizoguchi

  7. Department of Hematology, Fujigaoka Hospital, Showa University, Kanagawa, Japan

    Mitsuhiro Omine

  8. Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan

    Keiya Ozawa

Authors
  1. Kazuya Shimoda
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  2. Kotaro Shide
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  3. Kenjirou Kamezaki
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  4. Takashi Okamura
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  5. Naoki Harada
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  6. Naoko Kinukawa
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  7. Kazuma Ohyashiki
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  8. Yoshiyuki Niho
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  9. Hideaki Mizoguchi
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  10. Mitsuhiro Omine
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  11. Keiya Ozawa
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  12. Mine Harada
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kazuya Shimoda.

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Shimoda, K., Shide, K., Kamezaki, K. et al. The Effect of Anabolic Steroids on Anemia in Myelofibrosis with Myeloid Metaplasia: Retrospective Analysis of 39 Patients in Japan. Int J Hematol 85, 338–343 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1532/IJH97.06135

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1532/IJH97.06135

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