Myeloproliferative disorder therapy: assessment and management of adverse events--a cardiologist's perspective

Although some cardiac effects, such as palpitations and tachycardia, occur commonly in healthy people, they have also been shown to be associated with agents used to treat the myeloproliferative disorders. Various strategies exist to prevent and manage cardiac effects and minimise their impact on treatment compliance and persistence. These include pre-therapy cardiac assessment, pharmacological intervention and referral to a cardiologist. Ultimately, treating physicians must use their discretion when deciding which management strategy to use and which cardiac side effects require referral to a cardiologist, but the value of continuous dialogue between specialists should not be ignored.