Sage-Tips

Is polycythemia vera life threatening?

Polycythemia vera can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated. It can cause blood clots resulting in a heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism. Liver and spleen enlargement are other possible complications.

Is polycythemia vera a rare disease?

Polycythemia vera is a rare, chronic disorder involving the overproduction of blood cells in the bone marrow (myeloproliferation).

Does polycythemia vera affect the brain?

It can cause thrombotic diseases, especially cerebral infarction. A previous study revealed that in more than 15\% of patients, PV is first manifested as cerebral infarction.

Is polycythemia vera a death sentence?

There is currently no cure for PV, but the disease is not necessarily a death sentence. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the median life expectancy after diagnosis is 20 years.

Can you live a long life 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.

What is the difference between polycythemia and polycythemia vera?

Polycythemia, also called erythrocytosis, refers to an increase in red blood cell mass, noted on laboratory evaluation as increased hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Polycythemia vera is a subtype of polycythemia and is associated with the overproduction of all 3 cell lines.

What’s the difference between polycythemia and polycythemia vera?

How does someone get polycythemia vera?

Polycythemia vera occurs when a mutation in a gene causes a problem with blood cell production. Normally, your body regulates the number of each of the three types of blood cells you have — red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Can polycythemia cause a stroke?

High blood viscosity is associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular complications, including reduced cerebral blood flow. This case report suggests that polycythemia secondary to an erythropoietin-secreting renal cell carcinoma can lead to ischemic stroke.

Does polycythemia vera cause anxiety?

In multiple surveys, people living with an MPN (Polycythemia Vera, Essential Thrombocythemia or Myelofibrosis) have reported a higher rate of anxiety or depression than the general population.

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.

Should I talk to my doctor about polycythemia vera symptoms?

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of polycythemia vera. Polycythemia vera occurs when a mutation in a gene causes a problem with blood cell production. Normally, your body regulates the number of each of the three types of blood cells you have — red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

Is there a genetic test for polycythemia vera?

If mutations are not found in the red blood cells but the doctors still suspect a diagnosis of polycythemia vera, a bone marrow biopsy may be done to look for mutations in the hematopoietic blood cells which are located in the bone marrow. [1] The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition.

Can polycythemia vera cause a heart attack?

These excess cells thicken your blood, slowing its flow. They also cause complications, such as blood clots, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Polycythemia vera isn’t common. It usually develops slowly, and you might have it for years without knowing.

What does polycythemia vera mean in medical terms?

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.