Thiol/Disulfide Balance in Older Patients with BCR-ABL Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

Background: The trio Essential Thrombocytosis (ET), Polycythemia Vera (PV), and Primary Myelofibrosis (PM) are BCR-ABL negative myeloproliferative neoplasms. All three diseases have the risk of transforming into acute leukemia. Oxidative stress and some genetic mutations increase the risk of leukemic transformation. The median age in patients with ET, PV, and MF is around 64 years, and it is expected to exceed 65 in the coming years. Since oxidative stress increases with age, we aimed to evaluate the oxidative stress parameters in older patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Methods: The study included a total of 160 patients (57 patients with Essential Thrombocytosis, 52 patients with Primary Myelofibrosis, and 51 patients with Polycythemia Vera) and 56 healthy controls, aged 65 and over. Ischemia Modified Albumin (IMA) and thiol parameters (native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide) were studied from serum samples taken at the time of diagnosis.

Results: The median age of the patients was 69 (65 - 85) years. Patients had higher levels of IMA and lower levels of thiol compared to the control group (p < 0.001). When evaluated according to disease subgroups, it was observed that the highest IMA levels and the lowest thiol levels were in patients with PM (p < 0.001). Higher IMA levels and lower native thiol levels were found in patients with the ASXL1 mutation (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Serum IMA and thiol levels are also significantly changed in older patients with BCR-ABL negative myeloproliferative neoplasia. Changes in these markers are independent of age. Disease-associated mutations such as ASXL1 can also affect the serum levels of these markers.