A European study has just been released suggesting a new way to monitor polycythemia vera patients’ disease activity.

Titled ‘Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio as surrogate for JAK2^V617F suppression and event-free survival in polycythemia vera’ it explores the value of using neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a means of monitoring PV disease activity.

The study used data from three of the largest PV clinical trials, and evaluated the impact of PV therapies on the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio – and then its relationship with molecular response (reduction in allele burden) and clinical outcomes.

The full article is free to access HERE.

Conclusion

‘This study highlights the distinct effects of Hydroxyurea and Ropeg on leukocyte-derived biomarkers in PV.  While both reduce leukocytosis and neutrophilia -key thrombosis drivers- Ropeg also normalizes NLR, lowers JAK2^V617F VAF, and better preserves lymphopoiesis, suggesting potential to reduce thrombosis and modify disease progression.  These findings support NLR as a predictive biomarker, reinforcing the importance of inflammation-targeted strategies in PV management.’