Resolution of post-polycythaemic myelofibrosis with a combination of thalidomide and interferon

The responses and tolerance can be further enhanced with a combination of thalidomide and corticosteroids initially for a short period. 3 IFNα targets the malignant clone in PV/myeloproliferative neoplasm to achieve complete haematological and molecular response. 4 It is also effective in fibrosis secondary to PV with residual haematopoietic function 5 6 by its broad physiological effects on haematopoiesis/megakaryopoiesis. 7 JAK2V617F mutation, a screening tool in PV and ET, can be quantified and used as a tool to monitor minimal residual disease and assess treatment efficacy. 7 Detection and quantitation of the JAK2V617F allele in genomic DNA was determined by real-time quantitative PCR (AB 7900, Life Technologies Corp., Carlsbad, California) analysis using a commercially validated CE (Conformité Européene) marked kit 8 (JAK2 MutaQuant; Ipsogen SA, Marseille cedex 9, France).