New Test Launched

• MPL found at 1p34, encodes the thrombopoetin receptor required for platelet production.
• Upto 5% of JAK2V617F negative ET or Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) patients are reported to exhibit a MPL exon 10 mutation
• Acquired MPL mutations (W515L & W515K) have been reported in Essential thrombocythemia (ET) (1%) & Myelofibrosis(MF) (5-7%) cases but not in Polycythemia vera (PV) & are associated with severe anemia.
• An inherited MPL mutation (S505N; exon 10) has also been detected in patients with hereditary thrombocythemia.

Clinical Utility

• Identification of MPL mutations can aid in the diagnosis of a myeloproliferative neoplasm and is highly suggestive of either PMF or ET.
• MPL mutation would be beneficial in the differential diagnosis of unexplained Thrombocytosis or myelofibrosis.

When to go for the test:

Testing is recommended in patients with a clinical picture suggestive of clear picture of ET or PMF or who were found to be negative for the JAK2V617F mutation.