Risk of infections in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms—a population-based cohort study of 8363 patients

According to data from a large population-based matched cohort study in Sweden, the rate of infection was highest among patients with primary myelofibrosis (HR 3.7 [95% CI 3.2–4.1]) and is significantly elevated in all MPN subtypes compared with controls (polycythemia vera: HR 1.7 [95% CI 1.6–1.8]; essential thrombocythemia: HR 1.7 [95% CI 1.5–1.8]). The study did not find a significant difference in infection rate between patients treated with common cytoreductive therapies such as hydroxyurea or interferon-α vs those not treated.