Barbui, Tiziano

Abstract The classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias was last updated in 2016 within a collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO), the Society for Hematopathology, and the European Association for Haematopathology. This collaboration was primarily based on input from a clinical advisory committees (CACs) composed of pathologists, hematologists, oncologists, geneticists, and bioinformaticians from around the world. The recent advances in our understanding of the biology of hematologic malignancies, the experience with the use of the 2016 WHO classification in clinical practice, and the results of clinical trials have indicated the need for further revising and updating the classification. As a continuation of this CAC-based process, the authors, a group with expertise in the clinical, pathologic, and genetic aspects of these disorders, developed the International Consensus Classification (ICC) of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias. Using a multiparameter approach, the main objective of the consensus process was the definition of real disease entities, including the introduction of new entities and refined criteria for existing diagnostic categories, based on accumulated data. The ICC is aimed at facilitating diagnosis and prognostication of these neoplasms, improving treatment of affected patients, and allowing the design of innovative clinical trials.

Abstract Despite much of the past 2 years being engulfed by the devastating consequences of the SAR‐CoV‐2 pandemic, significant progress, even breathtaking, occurred in the field of chronic myeloid malignancies. Some of this was show‐cased at the 15th Post‐American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the 25th John Goldman workshops on myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) held on 9th‐10th December 2020 and 7th‐10th October 2021, respectively. The inaugural Post‐ASH MPN workshop was set out in 2006 by John Goldman (deceased) and Tariq Mughal to answer emerging translational hematology and therapeutics of patients with these malignancies. Rather than present a resume of the discussions, this perspective focuses on some of the pivotal translational hematology and therapeutic insights in these diseases.

Abstract The goal of therapy for patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV) is to reduce thrombotic events by normalizing blood counts. Hydroxyurea (HU) and interferon-α (IFN-α) are the most frequently used cytoreductive options for patients with ET and PV at high risk for vascular complications. Myeloproliferative Disorders Research Consortium 112 was an investigator-initiated, phase 3 trial comparing HU to pegylated IFN-α (PEG) in treatment-naïve, high-risk patients with ET/PV. The primary endpoint was complete response (CR) rate at 12 months. A total of 168 patients were treated for a median of 81.0 weeks. CR for HU was 37% and 35% for PEG (P = .80) at 12 months. At 24 to 36 months, CR was 20% to 17% for HU and 29% to 33% for PEG. PEG led to a greater reduction in JAK2V617F at 24 months, but histopathologic responses were more frequent with HU. Thrombotic events and disease progression were infrequent in both arms, whereas grade 3/4 adverse events were more frequent with PEG (46% vs 28%). At 12 months of treatment, there was no significant difference in CR rates between HU and PEG. This study indicates that PEG and HU are both effective treatments for PV and ET. With longer treatment, PEG was more effective in normalizing blood counts and reducing driver mutation burden, whereas HU produced more histopathologic responses. Despite these differences, both agents did not differ in limiting thrombotic events and disease progression in high-risk patients with ET/PV. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01259856.

Abstract Background The detrimental effect of leukocytosis on survival in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) has been well established for primary myelofibrosis (PMF), polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET ) (JCO. 2018;36:310; BJH. 2020;189:291) Previous studies have also implicated leukocytosis as a risk factor for leukemic transformation (Mayo Clin Proc. 2017;92:1118) and thrombosis in MPN (Blood Adv. 2019;3:1729). However, it is currently not clear as to which component(s) of white blood cells is responsible for these observations. In the current study, we sought to examine the individual prognostic contribution of absolute neutrophil (ANC), lymphocyte (ALC) and monocyte (AMC) counts, on overall (OS), leukemia-free (LFS), and myelofibrosis-free (MFFS) survival and in ET. Methods Study patients (n=349) were retrospectively recruited from the Mayo Clinic MPN database of 1,249 WHO-defined ET patients, evaluated over five decades (1967-2021), based on availability of information on ANC, ALC and AMC. Conventional criteria were used for diagnosis and definitions of major complications, including leukemic or fibrotic transformation (Blood 2016;127:2391). Conventional statistical methods were applied using JMP Pro 14.0.0 software package, SAS Institute, Cary, NC. Multivariable analyses included previously established risk factors for survival. Results 349 patients (median age 57 years, range 18-89; females 61%) with ET were included in the study: 46% JAK2, 34% CALR, 16% triple-negative and 4% MPL mutated; IPSET risk category high 24%, intermediate 41%, and low 35%; presenting median (range) values were 13.8 g/dL (11.1-16.4) for hemoglobin, 8.2 x 10(9)/L (3.2-52) for leukocyte count, and 859 x 10(9)/L (451-3460) for platelet count; palpable splenomegaly was present in 48 (14%); median followup was 10 years (range 0-47), during which time 118 deaths, 52 fibrotic progressions, and 14 leukemic transformations were documented. Multivariable analysis identified older age (p<0.001), increased ANC (p<0.001), decreased ALC (p=0.03), and male sex (p=0.04), but not AMC (p=0.8), venous thrombosis (p=0.4), or arterial thrombosis (p=0.4), as independent risk factors for OS. ANC of ≥8 x 10(9)/L and ALC of <1.8 x 10(9)/L were determined as appropriate cut-off values by ROC analysis. Subsequent multivariable analysis using these cut-off values resulted in HR (95% CI) of 5.2 (3.4-7.9; p<0.001) for age >60 years, 3.1 (2.1-4.6; p<0.001) for ANC, and 2.0 (1.4-3.0; p<0.001) for ALC; male sex was no longer significant in this analysis (p=0.14). An operational HR-based risk score assigned 3 adverse risk points for older age (>60 years), 2 for increased ANC (≥8 x 10(9)/L) and 1 for ALC (<1.8 x 10(9)/L), resulting in an new Age Anc Alc (AAA; triple A) risk model for survival in ET with estimates of median survival ranging from 9.7 to 36.6 years (Figure 1). In addition, ALC <1.8 x 10(9)/L was associated with inferior LFS (p=0.06) and MFFS (p=0.07) while AMC as a continuous variable showed borderline significance for MFFS (p=0.18). In univariate analysis, JAK2V617F allele burden showed significant association with OS (p=0.02), LFS (p=0.05) and MFFS (p=0.001); however significance for OS was lost in mutivariable analysis that included ANC and ALC. An external validation cohort from the University of Florence (n=485) confirmed the independent survival risk contribution from age >60 years (p<0.001; HR 9.9, 95% CI 5.4-18.0), ANC ≥8 x 10(9)/L (p=0.02; 1.9, 1.1-3.5) and ALC <1.8 x 10(9)/L (p<0.001; 2.0, 1.3-3.0). The Triple A risk model was also effectively applied on the Florence validation cohort (Figure 1): median follow-up 8.4 years; 87 deaths; 43 fibrotic progression; 12 leukemic transformations. The association of ALC <1.8 x 10(9)/L (p=0.04) and AMC (p=0.002) with fibrotic transformation was also validated in the Florence cohort. Conclusions: The current study identifies increased ANC and decreased ALC as age-independent risk factors for survival in ET, thus allowing the development of a globally applicable simple to use "Triple A" risk model that is based on Age, ANC and ALC. Decreased ALC also predicted fibrotic and leukemic progression. Our observations suggest potential value for immune profiling as an additional prognostic tool in MPN. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Szuber: Novartis: Honoraria. Vannucchi: BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Abstract Background: Thrombosis is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in pts with Polycythemia Vera (PV). Current risk stratification is based on 2 variables: age >60y and history of thrombosis. Additional thrombotic risk factors in PV are generic cardiovascular risk factors and leukocytosis. JAK2V617F (JAK2VF) variant allele frequency (VAF) at diagnosis is highly heterogeneous. A VAF>75% was associated with higher rate of all thrombosis after diagnosis (Vannucchi AM et al, Leukemia 2007), and a VAF ≥ 60% correlated with increased rate of venous thrombosis (VT) in high-risk pts (Guglielmelli P et al, ASH 2018); however, predictive role of JAK2VF VAF is still debated. Aim: To evaluate the impact of JAK2VF VAF on rate of arterial and venous thrombosis in PV pts. Patients and methods: A cohort of 576 strictly 2016 WHO-defined PV pts followed at Univ. of Florence (1981-2020) were included. All pts were annotated for JAK2VF VAF, determined <3 years from diagnosis, and thrombosis at diagnosis and follow-up (FU). Arterial thromboses (AT) included stroke, transient ischemic attacks, retinal artery occlusion, coronary artery disease, and peripheral arterial disease; VT included cerebral venous thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism. Splanchnic vein thromboses (SVT) were excluded. Only first occurring event was considered. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for univariate and multivariable analysis. Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis was used for time-to-event assessment, compared by log-rank test. Results: Median age was 61.4 y (range, 16.2-91.8), 58.2% were male; 62% were high-risk based on current classification. Median JAK2VF VAF was 41.5% (range, 0.3-100). A total of 76 (13.2%) pts had an AT event before/at PV diagnosis and 49 (8.5%) pts had an AT during FU. As regards VT, 64 (11.1%) and 39 (6.8%) pts had a VT before/at or after PV diagnosis, respectively. We found that JAK2 VAF as a continue variable was correlated with the risk of VT in FU (p=0.003) but not with AT (p=0.8). ROC analysis to determine the best cut-off level for JAK2 VAF predicting VT had an AUC of 0.72 and a best cut-off value of VAF=50%. VT at FU were significantly enriched in pts with VAF >50%: 14.5% versus 2.4%, p=<0.0001. VT -free survival (VT-FS) by KM was significantly shorter in the presence of a JAK2 VAF >50% (HR 4, CI 1.9-8.6, p<0.0001) (Figure 1A), whereas no difference was found for AT (HR 0.9). In addition to JAK2VF VAF>50%, univariate analysis for VT-FS identified history of VT (HR 2.9; CI 1.4-6.1, p=0.006), leukocytosis ≥11x10 9/L (HR 1.9; CI 1.1-3.4, p=0.02) and palpable splenomegaly (HR 1.9, CI 1-3.6; p=0.04) as risk factors. Multivariable analysis confirmed VAF>50% (HR 3.8, CI 1.8-8.1, p=0.0006) and previous VT (HR 2.4, CI 1.1-5.1; p=0.02) as independent risk factors for future VT. In contrast, univariate analysis for AT-free survival (AT-FS) identified history of AT (HR 2.5; CI 1.3-4.9, p=0.007), diabetes (HR 3.3; CI 1.6-6.5, p=0.0007), hyperlipidemia (HR 3.1; CI 1.7-5.6, p=0.0003) and hypertension (HR 2, CI 1.1-3.8; p=0.03) as predictors of future AT; age >60y showed only a trend (p=0.08). Multivariable analysis for AT-FS identified diabetes (HR 2.4, CI 1.2-5; p=0.02), hyperlipidemia (HR 2.3; CI 1.2-4.3, p=0.01) and previous AT (HR 2.1, CI 1-4.2; p=0.04) as independent predictors of future AT. Validation: Our findings were validated in an independent cohort of 315 2016-WHO defined PV pts from Policlinico Gemelli, Catholic Univ., Rome. After exclusion of 26 pts with SVT, analysis was conducted on 289 pts, 38 of them with thrombosis as heralding event (21 AT and 17 VT). Multivariable analysis confirmed JAK2VF VAF >50% (HR 2.3, CI 1.03-5.0, p=0.04) and previous VT (HR 4.5, CI 2.0-10.1; p=0.0003) as independent risk factors for future VT. In pts with VAF >50%, the rate of VT at FU was 19.9% vs 7.7%, P=0.005. KM curve showed that VT-FS was significantly shorter in pts with a JAK2VF VAF >50% (HR 2.2, CI 1.2-4.2; p=0.01) (Figure 1B). Of note, impact of JAK2 VAF>50% on VT at FU was statistically significant particularly in conventionally low-risk pts, accounting for an HR of 9.4 (CI 1.2-72) and HR 3.6 (CI 1.3-10) in Florence and Rome cohorts, respectively. Conclusions: These data support JAK2VF VAF as a strong independent predictor for future venous thrombosis in PV, in association with history of prior venous events, reinforcing that AT and VT are associated with unique risk factors in pts with PV. Supported by AIRC, Project Mynerva n.21267 Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Vannucchi: BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Abstract Background In addition to its influence on survival, leukocytosis in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) has also been implicated as a risk factor for thrombosis, including venous thrombosis in PV (Blood Cancer J, 2017;7:662) and arterial thrombosis in ET (Blood. 2011;117:5857). In the current study, we sought to clarify the individual prognostic contribution of absolute neutrophil (ANC), lymphocyte (ALC) and monocyte (AMC) counts, for arterial and venous thrombotic events in essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV). Methods The current study included 487 patients with ET (n=349) or PV (n=138), recruited from the Mayo Clinic MPN database, based on availability of information on ANC, ALC and AMC. Conventional criteria were used for diagnosis (Blood 2016;127:2391) and definitions of major vascular events (Blood Cancer J. 2018;8:25). Conventional statistical models were applied using JMP Pro 14.0.0 software package, SAS Institute, Cary, NC. Multivariable analyses included previously established risk factors for arterial or venous thrombosis. Results Essential thrombocythemia patients: 349 patients (median age 57 years, range 18-89; females 61%) with ET were included in the study: 46% JAK2, 34% CALR, 16% triple-negative and 4% MPL mutated; IPSET risk category high 24%, intermediate 41%, and low 35%; presenting median (range) values were 13.8 g/dL (11.1-16.4) for hemoglobin, 8.2 x 10(9)/L (3.2-52) for leukocyte count, and 859 x 10(9)/L (451-3460) for platelet count; palpable splenomegaly was present in 48 (14%) patients and cardiovascular risk factors in 56%; median follow-up was 10 years (range 0-47). There were 38 (11%) documented venous events at diagnosis and 31 (9%) after diagnosis and 42 (12%) arterial events at diagnosis and 64 (18%) after diagnosis. Polycythemia vera patients: 138 patients (median age 62 years, range 20-94; females 50%) with PV were included in the study; presenting median (range) values were 17.9 g/dL (16.1-24) for hemoglobin, 11.8 x 10(9)/L (2.7-65.8) for leukocyte count, and 434 x 10(9)/L (44-1679) for platelet count; 57% of patients presented with leukocytosis >11 x 10(9)/L; palpable splenomegaly was present in 37 (27%) patients; abnormal karyotype was documented in 17% of patients. Median follow-up was 11 years (range 0.03-36.7). There were 22 (16%) documented venous events at diagnosis and 21 (16%) after diagnosis and 28 (20%) arterial events at diagnosis and 15 (11%) after diagnosis. ANC/ALC/AMC associations with thrombosis in ET and PV: In both ET and PV, ANC/ALC/AMC did not correlate with arterial thrombosis at/prior to diagnosis (p>0.1 in all instances). By contrast, in both ET and PV, higher ANC (p=0.05 and 0.04, respectively) and higher AMC (p=0.005 and 0.07), but not ALC (p=0.6 and 0.7), were correlated with venous thrombosis at/prior to diagnosis. Arterial thrombosis-free survival was not affected by ANC/ALC/AMC in either ET or PV (p>0.1 in all instances). By contrast, venous thrombosis-free survival in both ET and PV was compromised by higher ANC (p=0.05 and 0.003, respectively), but not ALC or AMC. The significant association between higher ANC and inferior venous thrombosis-free survival in both ET (p=0.01) and PV (p=0.007) was sustained during multivariable analysis that included history of venous thrombosis, age and sex; the only other variable of significance was older age in ET (p<0.001). The significant association between ANC and venous thrombosis-free survival was also noted in an external cohort of PV patients from the University of Florence (n=576). Conclusions: The current study identifies ANC as having a direct correlation with venous thrombosis in both ET and PV, independent of currently known risk factors. An additional risk contribution from AMC was apparent for events occuring at or prior to but not after diagnosis. Taken together, these observations flag both neutrophils and monocytes as potential contributors to venous but not arterial thrombosis in MPN, at least not by themselves. Additional collaborative studies are ongoing in order to integrate and reconcile our observations in the context of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (Carobbio et al) and JAK2V617F allele burden (Loscocco et al), on venous thrombosis-free survival in PV, reported in concomitantly submitted ASH 2021 abstracts, especially in light of the relatively small number of events in the current study. Disclosures Barbui: Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AOP Orphan: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Vannucchi: AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Abstract Background Current NCCN and ELN guidelines lack supporting evidence in regards to initiation of cytoreductive therapy in essential thrombocythemia (ET) with extreme thrombocytosis (ExT) ≥1500 x 10 9/L (NCCN guidelines: myeloproliferative neoplasms, version 2. 2019, Barbui, Leukemia, 2018).; we sought to determine prevalence and establish phenotype and genotype correlates for ET with ExT and assess its impact on thrombotic and bleeding events, in the context of aspirin therapy or cytoreduction. Methods 1,249 WHO-defined ET patients evaluated over five decades (1967-2021) were retrospectively recruited from the Mayo Clinic. Conventional criteria were used to define major arterial and venous thrombosis and major hemorrhage. Conventional statistical methods were applied using JMP Pro 14.0.0 software package, SAS Institute, Cary, NC. Results i) Phenotype and genotype correlates Among 1,249 consecutive patients with ET, 104 (8%) displayed Ext ≥1500 x 10 9/L, at time of initial diagnosis; these patients were characterized by younger age (median 47 vs 59 years; p<0.001) female gender (80% vs 62%; p<0.001), CALR mutation (39% vs 25%; p=0.004), lower hemoglobin (median 13.1 vs 13.7 g/dl; p<0.0001), leukocytosis ≥11 x 10 9/l (42% vs 23%; p<0.0001), and palpable splenomegaly (22% vs 14%; 0.03); multivariable analysis confirmed associations with age, anemia, leukocytosis, and CALR mutation. Acquired von Willebrand syndrome was reported in 4/9 (44%) vs 27/78 (35%) tested patients, with or without Ext ≥1500 x 10 9/L, respectively (p=0.57); however, comparison using platelet ≥1000 x 10 9/L resulted in near-signficant difference (46% vs 29%; p=0.11). NGS was performed in 297 patients and showed a non-sigificant association with U2AF1 mutations (5% vs 0.4%; p=0.11). ExT ≥1500 x 10 9/L was present in 25/986 (3%), 42/891 (5%), and 15/558 (3%) in the validation cohort; the limited number of cases precluded comparative analyses. ii )Correlation with vascular events at/prior to diagnosis Arterial or venous thrombosis at/prior to diagnosis occurred in 190 (15%) and 111 (9%) patients, respectively, and major hemorrage in 50 (4%). Ext ≥1500 x 10 9/L was associated with major hemorrhage (HR 2.9; 1.3-6.3), but not with arterial (p=0.15) or venous (p=0.41) thrombotic events, at/prior to diagnosis. Instead, multivariable analysis for events at/prior to diagnosis identified male gender (p=0.02), JAK2 mutation (p=0.01), and cardiovascular risk factors (p=0.001) as risk factors for arterial thrombosis and JAK2 mutation (HR 2.8; 1.4-5.7) as a risk factor for venous thrombosis. iii ) Correlation with vascular events after diagnosis At median follow-up of 10 years, arterial or venous thrombosis occurred in 222 (18%) and 97 (8%) patients, respectively, and major hemorrage in 128 (11%). Ext ≥1500 x 10 9/L at diagnosis was not associated with arterial (p=0.35) or venous (p=0.23) thrombosis-free survival or hemorrhage-free survival (p=0.24). Instead, multivariable analysis identified age >60 years, presence of cardiovascular risk factors, and history of arterial thrombosis, as risk factors for arterial thrombosis-free survival; and male gender and history of venous thrombosis as risk factors for venous thrombosis-free survival; and age >60 years and leukocytosis of ≥11 x 10 9/L as risk factors for hemorrhage-free survival. In addition, aspirin therapy was idependently protective of venous thrombosis (HR 0.5; 0.2-0.9), and also of arterial thrombosis, in univariate analysis (HR 0.6; 0.3-0.9), without being associated with an increased risk of major hemorrhage (p=0.64); by contrast, beneficial effect from cytoreductive therapy was not evident for either arterial (p=0.37) or venous (p=0.77) thrombosis. In low-risk patients with Ext ≥1500 x 10 9/L, both aspirin and cytoreductive therapy were protective of venous events (Figure 1), without affecting hemorrhage-free survival. Conclusion ExT ≥1500 x 10 9/L in ET was associated with major hemorrhage at diagnosis but did not affect thrombosis-free or hemorrhage-free survival. Initial therapy with aspirin and/or cytoreductive therapy was protective of venous events in ET patients with ExT ≥1500 x 10 9/L, including those with low-risk disease, without enhancing the risk of hemorrhage. The limited number of informative cases with ExT in the validation cohort, underscore the foreseeable challenges associated with controlled studies. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Szuber: Novartis: Honoraria. Vannucchi: AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Barbui: AOP Orphan: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

Abstract Background. The tendency towards thrombosis in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) is linked to the JAK2-mutant clone which leads to hypercellularity and functional interplay between abnormal erythrocytes, platelets, leukocytes and dysfunctional endothelium. The resulting cell activation that also involves stromal cells in their microenvironment, has been shown associated with chronic, systemic, subclinical pro-inflammatory state, and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of thrombosis in MPN. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a novel inflammatory marker found to be associated with the severity and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases but there is little evidence for its prognostic significance in MPN. We investigated whether NLR could predict the onset of arterial and venous thrombosis in polycythemia vera (PV). Methods. Subjects of this study were 1508 patients included in the ECLAP trail with NLR evaluation available. In addition to standard statistical methods, we used proportional hazards additive models (GAM) as they can provide an excellent fit in the presence of nonlinear relationships, for the prediction of total, arterial and venous thrombosis as smooth functions with cubic splines of different blood parameters. Results. After a median follow-up of 2.76 years, 169 thrombotic events (10.3%) were objectively diagnosed and analyzed: 87 arterial (MI, Stroke, TIA, PAT) and 88 venous thrombosis (DVT±PE, superficial thrombophlebitis). In univariate analysis, arterial thrombosis was associated with age (p=0.003) and previous thrombosis, especially if arterial (p<0.001), and with the presence of at least one cardiovascular risk factor (p=0.009). No association between baseline platelet and leukocyte counts and NLR with arterial events was found. Conversely, in venous thrombosis, beside age (p=0.039) and history of venous thrombosis (p<0.001), additional risk factors were low hemoglobin (p=0.039) and increasing values of NLR (p=0.002) resulting from a simultaneous increase of neutrophils (p=0.002) and to a decrease of absolute number lymphocytes (p=0.002).To predict outcomes, we tested total leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets and NLR by GAM to evaluate their trend in continuous scale of thrombotic risk. A significant association between the risk of venous thrombosis and the progressive lower counts of lymphocytes (p=0.002) emerged, leading to increase the NLR values (p=0.005). However, given the greater precision of the NLR estimates and the markedly wide confidence interval of lymphocyte counts estimates, NLR was used in multivariate model. Conversely, neither absolute values of neutrophils and lymphocytes nor NLR were found associated with arterial events.In multivariate model, adjusted for age, gender and treatments at baseline, the risk of venous thrombosis was independently associated with previous venous events (HR=5.48, p ≤0.001) and NLR values ≥5 -the best cut-off resulted applying the Liu's method (HR=2.13, p=0.001). NLR effect for total venous thrombosis was not modified by excluding superficial venous thrombosis (HR=2.90, p=0.001) in a sensitivity analysis. Older age (i.e., ≥65 years, HR=1.88, p=0.005) and previous arterial thrombosis (HR=1.92, p=0.003) retained the prognostic statistical significance for arterial thrombosis.Our learning cohort findings, indicating a correlation between NLR values and venous thrombosis, have been validated in two Italian independent external cohorts (Florence, n=282 and Rome, n=173) of contemporary PV patients (Figure 1). Conclusions. The NLR is an inexpensive and easily accessible test compared to other inflammatory markers. We found that NLR-alone is an independent predictor of venous thrombosis and could be included in a new scoring system. In addition to guiding the stratification of thrombotic risk, these data confirm that inflammation is a relevant target of antithrombotic therapy in PV. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Vannucchi: Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Barbui: AOP Orphan: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.