Autoimmune myelofibrosis (AIMF)
Overview
A form of non-cancerous myelofibrosis occurring with an autoimmune disease. Myelofibrosis occurs when abnormal blood cells and fibers build up in the bone marrow, causing severe anemia. If the condition is associated with a well-established autoimmune disease like systemic lupus erythematosus, it is referred to as secondary AIMF. On the other hand, primary AIMF refers to cases in which autoantibodies are present without a well-established autoimmune disorder.
Common Symptoms
The scarring in bone marrow caused by myelofibrosis results in anemia and thrombocytopenia. Symptoms include weakness, fatigue, and excessive bleeding. Patients with secondary AIMF will also experience symptoms associated with their coexisting autoimmune disease.
Coexisting Diseases and Conditions
Risk Factors and Prevalence
While risk factors for myelofibrosis include older age and chemical or radiation exposures, no specific risk factors have been identified with respect to AIMF.
Recent Research
- Pediatric autoimmune myelofibrosis: Experience from a large pediatric tertiary care center (2023)
- An overlooked mimic? Autoimmune myelofibrosis-A scoping review of the literature (2023)
- Distinguishing autoimmune myelofibrosis from primary myelofibrosis (2018)
- Autoimmune myelofibrosis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report (2020)
Sources
- Article Sources
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2021, June 8). Myelofibrosis. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myelofibrosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355057
Piatek, C. I., Vergara-Lluri, M. E., Pullarkat, V., Siddiqi, I. N., O’Connell, C., Brynes, R. K., & Feinstein, D. I. (2017). Autoimmune Myelofibrosis: Clinical Features, Course, and Outcome. Acta Haematologica, 138(3), 129–137. https://doi.org/10.1159/000479103
Pundole, X., Konoplev, S., Oo, T. H., & Lu, H. (2015). Autoimmune Myelofibrosis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Middle-Aged Male Presenting Only with Severe Anemia: A case report. Medicine, 94(19), e741. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000000741
Vergara-Lluri, M. E., Piatek, C. I., Pullarkat, V., Siddiqi, I. N., O’Connell, C., Feinstein, D. I., & Brynes, R. K. (2014). Autoimmune myelofibrosis: An update on morphologic features in 29 cases and review of the literature. Human Pathology, 45(11), 2183–2191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humpath.2014.07.017