Increasing evidence that Interferons are our best treatment option for PV

[Paul123456]

Both low risk and high risk PV.

Fmpn-hub.com/medical-informa...

[Ebot]

Interesting. But begs lots of questions. There does seem to be a divide in the MPN professional community between the keen advocators of Interferon and those who are hanging back and still prescribing Hydroxy as their default first line. I’m definitely going to raise this at my next appointment.

[mhos61 in reply to Ebot]

Ebot, even though I’m ET, would you let us know the outcome of that discussion, as I’m interested too?

[Ebot in reply to mhos61]

Sure. My next appointment is a telephone call - it’ll be getting on for year since I’ve have had a F2F appt! - so it depends who I speak to.

I looked again at the Interferon leaflets. Clearly for most people Hydroxy is the less complicated drug so I am conflicted.

I know that some specialists / centres are real Interferon evangelists and others (like Guys) more cautious. It will be interesting to see if the tide is turning.

[Ebot in reply to mhos61]

Hi. I just realised I didn’t respond to you. Nothing much to report! Had a tele consult. Same guy as last time but tbh the line was really bad and I couldn’t hear half of what he was saying! I raised the Interferon issue but the response was (as expected) HU is tried and tested and appears to be working for you. I get the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ bit. All the same, he said he would raise it at the team discussion and we’d pick it up in the next call. (Let’s hope the line is better!).

[mhos61 in reply to Ebot]

Thanks for getting back to me, it is appreciated.

I kind of get the ‘if it ain’t broke’ response. That would apply to me too, however, my argument is hydrea only lowers thrombotic risk (which I’m obviously grateful for) whereas, we’re led to believe Pegasys controls disease progression too.

Having said all that, I still remain cautious.

[Ebot in reply to mhos61]

Yep, that’s the thing I’m interested in too. I wonder whether there will be an opportunity to raise this at the forthcoming MPN webinar. Maybe we should both put in a question!

[mhos61 in reply to Ebot]

That’s an idea. Can you put a question in even if you don’t attend the webinar?

[Ebot in reply to mhos61]

Well registration is free so I figure anyone can register and put in a question and attend whatever they can attend. I’ve registered already.

[mhos61 in reply to Ebot]

Maybe, I thought it was full already. If I can post the question I will, if not I’ll leave it in your good hands, and hope you get a response.

[Ebot in reply to mhos61]

Ah, yes, I see it is full. Wonder if they’ll expand numbers. Yes, I’ll definitely submit a question. All the best.