Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42068356›Full record

SynthesisAnnals of hematology2026

Hematologic and molecular response to ropeginterferon alfa-2b in patients with polycythemia vera: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ammar Elgadi, Mohammed Wagealla, Tibyan Noorallah, Rayan Esmail, Shafee S Almahi

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Annals of hematology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Ammar ElgadiFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan. ammartarig56@gmail.com.
Mohammed WageallaFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
Tibyan NoorallahFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
Rayan EsmailFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
Shafee S AlmahiFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ropeginterferon alfa-2b is an interferon used in the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms, particularly polycythemia vera. Its efficacy in achieving hematologic and molecular responses has been demonstrated in clinical trials, but pooled data on long-term outcomes and sustained response remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the hematologic and molecular response over 36 months. PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify studies reporting hematologic and molecular responses to ropeginterferon alfa-2b. Studies were included if they provided data on complete hematologic response (CHR) and JAK2V617F variant allele frequency (VAF) reduction. Pooled proportions and mean reductions were calculated using random-effects models. The pooled proportion of CHR increased progressively from 0.19 (95% CI: 0.04-0.57) at 3 months to 0.73 (95% CI: 0.17-0.97) at 36 months. Molecular response, measured by VAF reduction, deepened over time from - 7.33 (95% CI: -9.85 to -4.81) at 3 months to -54.90 (95% CI: -65.61 to -43.99) at 36 months. Subgroup analyses revealed significant variability in response rates, particularly in early follow-up periods. Ropeginterferon alfa-2b achieves significant and sustained hematologic and molecular responses over 36 months. This makes it a promising treatment for polycythemia vera. While variability in early responses needs further investigation, the sustained long-term efficacy compared to hydroxyurea supports its use in clinical practice. Future studies should focus on identifying predictors of response and optimizing treatment protocols to maximize patient outcomes.

Indexed as

Interferon-alphaInterferon alpha-2Polycythemia VeraPolyethylene GlycolsGene FrequencyHumansJanus Kinase 2Recombinant ProteinsTreatment OutcomeInterferon-alphaInterferon alpha-2JAK2 protein, humanJanus Kinase 2Polyethylene GlycolsRecombinant Proteinsropeginterferon alfa-2bComplete hematologic response (CHR)JAK2V617F variant allele frequency (VAF)Meta-analysisMolecular responseMyeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN)Polycythemia veraRopeginterferon alfa-2b

Identifiers

PMID42068356
PMCPMC13135580

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.