Introduction: Vitamin D, which is known for its effects on calcium and bone metabolism,
has recently been associated with haematological malignancies. We aimed to investigate the
relationship between disease findings and vitamin D deficiency in essential thrombocythemia (ET)
and polycythemia vera (PV).
Material and Methods: This retrospective cohort study conducted in Turkey included 73
patients diagnosed with PV or ET according to WHO criteria between 2012 and 2018. Vitamin D
deficiency was defined as 25-OH vitamin D < 20 ng/mL. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used
to detect the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) V617F mutation.
Results: Vitamin D deficiency was found in 66.7% of PV and 74.2% of ET patients. The
median follow-up time of ET and PV patients was 48 months and 47 months, respectively. Patients
with the JAK2 mutation had a higher prevalence of a history of thrombosis and age older than 65
years. There was a significant relationship between JAK2 positivity and vitamin D deficiency.
Conclusion: There was a remarkably higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in JAK2
mutation-positive ET and PV patients. These patients should be carefully evaluated for vitamin
D deficiency. More studies are required to further investigate the association between JAK2 and
vitamin D.