polycythemia vera patient report

Polycythemia vera

in an oral surgical patient. A case report Polycythemia vera is a stem cell disorder that results in an increase in the production of red blood cells. Although numerous mechanisms have been suggested, the cause of the disease is unknown. Diagnosis is based on clinical and laboratory presentation.

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How do we treat patients with polycythemia vera?

Treatment modalities for polycythemia vera (PV) have evolved over time. Phlebotomy and low-dose aspirin suffice in low-risk patients, but cytoreductive therapies are indicated in all high-risk patients (age ≥ 65 years or those with a history of PV-related thrombotic event) and may be considered for low-risk patients with progressively increasing splenomegaly, progressively increasing ...

What do you need to know about polycythemia vera?

• heavy bleeding from even minor cuts
• swollen joints
• bone pain
• reddish color to your face
• bleeding gums
• burning feeling in your hands or feet

How serious is polycythemia vera?

Polycythemia vera often has vague symptoms or no symptoms early in its course. It usually progresses slowly, and you may notice dizziness, fatigue, headache, and other symptoms. Over time, serious complications can occur, including blood clots and blood cancer. Polycythemia vera is a lifelong condition.

How is polycythemia vera diagnosed and treated?

Treatments include: 6

• Phlebotomy is used to remove blood from the body Like a blood donation, a line is inserted into a vein and blood is collected in a blood collection bag. ...
• Aspirin is used to prevent blood clots.
• Medications include Droxia (hydroxyurea), Multiferon ( interferon alpha ), and Jakafi (ruxolitinib phosphate), a JAK inhibitor. ...

How can you tell if a person has polycythemia?

How polycythaemia is diagnosed. Polycythaemia can be diagnosed by carrying out a blood test to check: the number of red blood cells in your blood (red blood cell count) the amount of space the red blood cells take up in the blood (haematocrit level)

What are the laboratory findings in polycythemia vera?

If you have polycythemia vera, blood tests might reveal: More red blood cells than normal and, sometimes, an increase in platelets or white blood cells. A greater percentage of red blood cells that make up total blood volume (hematocrit measurement)

Can you live 40 years with polycythemia vera?

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a rare blood cancer. While no cure exists for PV, it can be controlled through treatment, and you can live with the disease for many years.

Can you live 20 years with polycythemia vera?

Median survival in patients with polycythemia vera (PV), which is 1.5-3 years in the absence of therapy, has been extended to approximately 14 years overall, and to 24 years for patients younger than 60 years of age, because of new therapeutic tools.

What is the RBC count in polycythemia vera?

In polycythemia, the levels of hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), or the red blood cell (RBC) count may be elevated when measured in the complete blood count (CBC), as compared to normal. Hemoglobin levels greater than 16.5 g/dL (grams per deciliter) in women and greater than 18.5 g/dL in men suggest polycythemia.

Is MCV high in polycythemia vera?

This case describes a patient who exhibited long-standing macrocytosis (elevated MCV) that contributed to elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit levels thus mimicking a diagnosis of polycythemia vera.

Does polycythemia shorten life span?

People with PV have a shorter-than-average life expectancy. Some of the possible complications of the disease can be life threatening. Getting treatment can help reduce the risk of certain complications from PV, including blood clots.

How fast does polycythemia vera progress?

One study shows that anywhere from 2% to 14% of the time, polycythemia vera changes into AML within 10 years. In this disease, stem cells in your bone marrow turn into unhealthy blood cells, including white blood cells called myeloblasts. These cells grow out of control, crowding out healthy blood cells.

What is the death rate of polycythemia vera?

Study results presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology suggest that the estimated 4-year mortality rate among patients with polycythemia vera is more than 10%, and that causes of death vary.

Can I donate blood if I have polycythemia vera?

As a Polycythemia Vera patient, you can not give blood to the Red Cross. You can go to blood centers where they will accept blood from a PV patient for what is referred to as “therapeutic phlebotomy.” You will need to check with the respective blood center in your area.

Can you fly with polycythemia?

As you may know, certain MPNs, like PV and ET, are already associated with a potential for blood clots. This is why it's important for people with MPNs to be mindful when flying. To keep your circulation moving, stretch your legs, wiggle your toes and get up every so often and walk around the cabin.

Can polycythemia vera turn into leukemia?

In rare cases, polycythemia vera may eventually progress into a form of leukemia known as acute myeloid leukemia.

How to diagnose polycythemia vera?

Diagnosis of polycythemia vera may be made based upon a thorough clinical evaluation, detailed patient history, and various specialized tests. In many cases, the disorder may be detected from blood tests conducted during a routine examination. A complete blood count (CBC) may demonstrate elevated numbers of red blood cells and sometimes platelets and white blood cells.

How many people are affected by polycythemia vera?

Affected Populations. Polycythemia vera affects slightly more men than women. The disorder is estimated to affect approximately 44 to 57 per 100,000 people in the US. It occurs most often in individuals more than 60 years old, but can affect individuals of any age. It is extremely rare in individuals under 20.

What percentage of polycythemia vera is mutation?

More than 90 percent of individuals with polycythemia vera have a variation (mutation) in the JAK2 gene. The exact role that this variation plays in the development of polycythemia vera is not yet known. Introduction. Polycythemia vera was first reported in the medical literature in 1892.

What is polycythemia vera?

General Discussion. Summary. Polycythemia vera is a rare, chronic disorder involving the overproduction of blood cells in the bone marrow (myeloproliferation). The overproduction of red blood cells is most dramatic, but the production of white blood cells and platelets are also elevated in most cases. Since red blood cells are overproduced in the ...

When was polycythemia vera first reported?

Polycythemia vera was first reported in the medical literature in 1892. The term “myeloproliferative disorder” (MPD) was first used to described polycythemia vera and related disorders in 1951. In 2008, the World Health Organization reclassified MPDs to “myeloproliferative neoplasms” (MPNs) to reflect the consensus that these diseases are blood ...

What are the three main blood cells?

This group of disorders is characterized by the overproduction (proliferation) of one or more of the three main blood cell lines – red or white blood cells or platelets. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body. White blood cells fight infection. Platelets are involved in clotting of the blood in response to injury.

Can polycythemia vera cause leukemia?

In rare cases, polycythemia vera may eventually progress into a form of leukemia known as acute myeloid leukemia.

What are the symptoms of polycythemia vera?

Other symptoms of PV include headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears ( tinnitus ), and impaired vision. [2] The skin may also become itchy ( pruritus) or reddened ( erythema ). Affected individuals may also have an enlarged spleen ( splenomegaly) and an increased risk for heart disease, and there is a small chance that PV may progress to cause leukemia ( cancer of the blood). [1]

Why is polycythemia vera bad?

This can cause problems because the blood is thicker than it would normally be , which causes an increased risk for blood clots that can cause serious health problems such as heart attack or stroke.

How to reduce blood thickening in polycythemia vera?

[5] . A person with polycythemia vera may also be told to take low-dose aspirin daily, which has been shown to help reduce blood thickening.

Why do people with PV have high red blood cells?

Because people with PV have consistently high number of red blood cells, the body tries to control this problem by secreting low levels of erythropoietin. [4] If low levels of erythropoietin are found in the blood as well as mutations in either JAK2 or TET2, an individual can be diagnosed with polycythemia vera.

What happens if you have too many white blood cells?

Affected people may also have excess white blood cells and platelets. Conditions where the body makes too many of these cells are known as myeloproliferative neoplasms. [1] . These extra cells cause the blood to be thicker than normal, increasing the risk for blood clots that can block blood flow in arteries and veins.

Is polycythemia vera inherited?

Even though most people with polycythemia vera (PV) have mutations in JAK2 or TET2, that does not mean that the condition is inherited from the parents. Instead, most cases of polycythemia vera are associated with genetic changes (mutations) that are somatic.

Is there a cure for polycythemia vera?

There are several treatments for the itching (pruritus) related to polycythemia vera. No single treatment has been found to be effective for all individuals. For mild cases, treatment may include avoiding triggers of itching and dry skin such as hot environment or bathing water. [1] .