Risk of Wernicke's encephalopathy and cardiac disorders in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm

• Patients with MPN, including PV, ET and PMF had an increased risk of developing WE.
• They also had a higher risk of developing CHF, AMI, and cardiac arrhythmia.
• Physicians who care for MPN patients should be aware of these risks.

The objectives of the study were to estimate the incidence of Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) and cardiac disorders among patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), and compare it with those without MPN. A total of 39,761 MPN patients were identified from the US Marketscan database. Approximately 27% of them were 65+ years of age, and 51% were male. Patients with MPN had higher rates of WE, compared to those without MPN (MPN vs. non-MPN: 1.09 vs. 0.39/1000 person-year, adjusted HR = 2.19, 95%CI 1.43–3.34). Patients with MPN also had higher rates of cardiac events (congestive heart failure: MPN vs. non-MPN: 9.27 vs. 3.70/1000 person-year, adjusted HR = 1.64, 95%CI 1.42–1.88; acute myocardial infarction: MPN vs. non-MPN: 10.45 vs. 5.02/1000 person-year, adjusted HR = 1.44, 95%CI 1.27, 1.63; cardiac arrhythmia: MPN vs. non-MPN: 106.5 vs. 53.9/1000 person-year, adjusted HR = 1.42, 95%CI 1.36–1.48). Physicians who care for patients with MPN should be aware of increased risk of WE and cardiac disorders in this population.