Work

Acute psychosis following initiation of ruxolitinib in post-polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis case report

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Polycythaemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) which can progress to myelofibrosis (MF), a phenomenon termed post-PV MF. Ruxolitinib is a Janus activated kinase (JAK) inhibitor that targets JAK1/2 mutations and is approved for treatment of high-risk MF. This is a case report of a patient with post-PV MF who developed acute psychotic disorder five months after commencing ruxolitinib and whose mental status returned to baseline within one week of stopping ruxolitinib. Importantly, there was no history of mental health disorder and no identifiable triggers for his presentation. Ruxolitinib has not previously been implicated in the development of psychosis but is known to cross the blood-brain barrier and affect multiple cell signalling pathways within the central nervous system. Together, this makes an association between ruxolitinib and neuropsychiatric symptoms plausible, yet further understanding of causal mechanisms is warranted.

Source: Annals of Hematology

DOI: 10.1007/s00277-026-06764-0

Authors: Louise Jade Potter, Sachin Shetty, M. Mansour Ceesay

Institutions: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, King's College Hospital, Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust

Language: English

Topic: Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: Diagnosis and Treatment

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,590