[Histomorphologic findings of the bone marrow in chronic myeloproliferative diseases]

Our survey on the histology of the bone marrow in chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPD) basically gives a description of the relevant lesions of the different subtypes (i.e. chronic myeloid leukemia, primary osteomyelofibrosis, polycythemia vera rubra, and primary thrombocythemia) in correlation with important clinical findings, such as the myelofibrosis/sclerosis syndrome, blast crisis, and prognosis. In a schematic presentation, we assigned the main features of hematopoiesis, interstitial space, and bone tissue to the various subtypes of CMPD, taking into consideration, as well, the evolution of histomorphological lesions in the course of the disease process, which could be determined by means of sequential biopsies. Particularly in the early hyperplastic stages of primary osteomyelofibrosis and in primary (essential) thrombocythemia, we observed a considerable elevation of the platelet count, possibly leading to thrombosis and hemorrhage.