Ruxolitinib therapy is associated with improved renal function in patients with primary myelofibrosis

Recent evidence suggests that renal dysfunction may be a direct consequence of primary myelofibrosis (PMF). We performed a retrospective analysis of 100 patients with previously untreated PMF, receiving frontline treatment with single agent ruxolitinib, and compared them to 105 patients, receiving frontline treatment with a non-ruxolitinib-based therapy, matched by age, sex, DIPSS plus, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Use of ruxolitinib associated with a significantly higher rate of renal improvement (RI) > 10% (73% vs 50%, p = 0.01) confirmed on multivariate analysis (MVA) [odds ratio 3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–5.5, p < 0.001]. After a median follow-up of 41 months (range, 1–159 months), median failure-free survival (FFS) was 14 months (range, 1–117 months). Achievement of a RI > 10% maintained its independent association with prolonged FFS on MVA (hazard ratio 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–2, p = 0.02). Ruxolitinib can significantly improve renal function in patients with PMF, significantly impacting failure-free survival.