MF Refers to Myelofibrosis
MF is the standard medical abbreviation for myelofibrosis, a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by bone marrow fibrosis, ineffective hematopoiesis, splenomegaly, and constitutional symptoms 1.
Types of Myelofibrosis
The term "MF" encompasses three distinct clinical entities 1, 2:
- Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF): A de novo clonal stem cell malignancy that presents as primary disease 1
- Post-Polycythemia Vera Myelofibrosis (PPV-MF): Secondary myelofibrosis that evolves from polycythemia vera 1
- Post-Essential Thrombocythemia Myelofibrosis (PET-MF): Secondary myelofibrosis that develops from essential thrombocythemia 1
MF Grading System
The European consensus and WHO classification use a standardized grading system (MF-0 through MF-3) to assess the degree of bone marrow fibrosis 1:
- MF-0: Scattered linear reticulin with no intersections, corresponding to normal bone marrow 1
- MF-1: Loose network of reticulin with many intersections, especially in perivascular areas 1
- MF-2: Diffuse and dense increase in reticulin with extensive intersections, occasionally with focal bundles of collagen and/or focal osteosclerosis 1
- MF-3: Diffuse and dense increase in reticulin with extensive intersections with coarse bundles of collagen, often associated with significant osteosclerosis 1
Clinical Context
When you encounter "MF" in medical literature about myeloproliferative neoplasms, it specifically refers to the degree of bone marrow fibrosis or the disease entity itself 2, 3. The abbreviation is used in diagnostic criteria, grading systems, treatment guidelines, and FDA drug labels for medications like fedratinib and pacritinib, which are approved for treating intermediate or high-risk MF 4, 5, 6.