Ruxolitinib Yields Durable Hematocrit Control and Minimal Thrombotic Risk in Patients With PV

Ruxolitinib is effective at controlling hematocrit (HCT) in the majority of patients with polycythemia vera, according to a study presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.

A recent analysis of ruxolitinib in patients with PV demonstrated durable HCT control and decreased need for therapeutic phlebotomy. “Despite emerging clinical reports, real-world data on HCT control, dose adjustment, and thrombotic risk with [ruxolitinib] are extremely limited,” the researchers wrote.

In this retrospective chart review from 3 centers, lead investigator Aleksander Lech Chojecki and colleagues assessed 69 patients with PV who were treated with ruxolitinib between December 2014 and December 2019.

Of all evaluated patients, HCT control rates in those treated with ruxolitinib at 3 and 6 months were 88% (52/59) and 89% (47/53), respectively, with no cases of arterial thrombosis observed. The investigators concluded that “[ruxolitinib] was highly effective in controlling HCT in the vast majority of PV [patients] by 3 and 6 months. PV [patients] treated with [ruxolitinib] rarely developed thrombosis. [Ruxolitinib] was well tolerated, and few patients required dose reduction or discontinuation.”

Source: Chojecki AL, Boselli D, Dortilus A, et al. Effect of durable hematocrit control and minimal thrombotic risk in real-world polycythemia vera patients treated with ruxolitinib. Abstract #e19080. Published for the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting; June 2-6, 2023; Chicago, Illinois.