what is the treatment for polycythemia

Medication

The major causes of morbidity and mortality are as follows:

• Thrombosis
• Hemorrhage
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Myelofibrosis
• Acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome

Procedures

• Medications like antihistamines may be prescribed to treat itching, depending on your current health and existing medications.
• Ultralight therapy may relieve itchiness.
• Medications typically used to treat depression, such as Prozac and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may help target itchiness as well.

Therapy

As a result, a person will likely lead a longer and healthier life with this disease if they receive treatment. According to an article in Blood Cancer Journal, the median survival time for people with PV is 14 years after diagnosis.

Self-care

Possible complications of polycythemia vera include:

• Blood clots. Increased blood thickness and decreased blood flow, as well as abnormalities in your platelets, raise your risk of blood clots. ...
• Enlarged spleen. Your spleen helps your body fight infection and filter unwanted material, such as old or damaged blood cells. ...
• Problems due to high levels of red blood cells. ...
• Other blood disorders. ...

Nutrition

What is the life expectancy of a polycythemia patient?

How do medications treat polycythemia?

What is the life expectancy of someone with PV?

What is the life expectancy of someone with polycythemia vera?

Is polycythemia is a cancer?

Overview. Polycythemia vera (pol-e-sy-THEE-me-uh VEER-uh) is a type of blood cancer. It causes your bone marrow to make too many red blood cells. These excess cells thicken your blood, slowing its flow, which may cause serious problems, such as blood clots.

What happens if you have polycythemia?

Polycythaemia can cause blood clots. These put you at risk of life-threatening problems such as: pulmonary embolisms – a blockage in the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs. deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – a blockage that forms in the blood vessels in your leg before moving elsewhere in your body.

What is the most common cause of polycythemia?

Primary polycythemia is genetic. It's most commonly caused by a mutation in the bone marrow cells, which produce your red blood cells. Secondary polycythemia can also have a genetic cause. But it's not from a mutation in your bone marrow cells.

Can polycythemia go away?

It's frustrating when you are coping with one condition and learn that you have a second diagnosis as well, but once you treat the underlying cause, the symptoms will usually go away. Most underlying conditions for secondary polycythemia are well-known conditions and already have multiple treatment options available.

How did I get polycythemia?

What causes polycythemia vera? Polycythemia vera is caused by a genetic change (mutation) that develops during your lifetime. It is not an inherited genetic disorder. In most cases it is not known why this happens.

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.

How long can you live with polycythemia?

Recent studies estimate the average life expectancy after diagnosis with polycythemia vera to be about 20 years. The average age of death is about 77. The most common cause of death is complications from blood clots (about 33%). Advancing cancer is the second most common cause (15%).

Can polycythemia turn into leukemia?

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

When is phlebotomy needed for polycythemia?

Patients older than 60 years or with a previous history of thrombosis are considered to be high risk. Patients younger than 60 years and with no prior history of thrombosis are considered low risk. All patients with PV should undergo phlebotomy to keep their hematocrit below 45%.

What foods to avoid if you have polycythemia?

Avoid refined foods, such as white processed sugar, bread and junk food to control inflammation as they may contain high-fat content and can increase chances of blood thickening. Avoid red meat completely and choose lean meats like chicken, cold-water fish (in moderation), pulses and beans, nuts and seeds for protein.

Which medication is approved for the treatment of polycythemia vera?

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Besremi (ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft) injection to treat adults with polycythemia vera, a blood disease that causes the overproduction of red blood cells. The excess cells thicken the blood, slowing blood flow and increasing the chance of blood clots.

Does polycythemia vera shorten your life?

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.