Medication
The primary treatment of polycythemia vera is therapeutic phlebotomy. In therapeutic phlebotomy, blood is removed from the body similar to a blood donation to reduce the number of red blood cells in circulation.
Procedures
Phlebotomy for PV The primary treatment of polycythemia vera is therapeutic phlebotomy. In therapeutic phlebotomy, blood is removed from the body similar to a blood donation to reduce the number of red blood cells in circulation.
Therapy
Was this helpful? What is polycythemia? Polycythemia is a blood condition in which the bone marrow makes excess blood cells, primarily red blood cells, but also platelets and white blood cells.
Self-care
Blood tests. If you have polycythemia vera, blood tests might reveal: An increase in the number of red blood cells and, in some cases, an increase in platelets or white blood cells.
Nutrition
What is the primary treatment for polycythemia vera?
How is phlebotomy used to treat polycythemia?
What is polycythemia?
What blood tests are done for polycythemia?
Why do you get phlebotomy?
You may get phlebotomy when your doctor first tells you that you have PV. It's a lot like donating blood.
What causes bone marrow to have too many red blood cells?
How It's Diagnosed. What Are the Treatments? Possible Complications. Polycythemia vera (PV) causes your bone marrow to make too many red blood cells. You need these cells to carry oxygen around your body, but too many of them can make your blood thicken and form clots.
What is the treatment for bone marrow thinning?
Each drug is different, so your doctor will talk with you about side effects and what the latest research shows. Radiation Therapy. This treatment slows red blood cell production in bone marrow, which thins your blood and helps it flow more easily.
Does hydroxurea help with phlebotomy?
Hydroxyurea is a cancer drug that slows down the growth of new cells in your body. In PV, it lowers the number of red blood cells and platelets, which are cells that help blood clot. If you take this drug, you may not need phlebotomy. Hydroxyurea can also prevent or treat an enlarged spleen -- a complication of PV.
What is polycythemia vera?
Understand all your treatment options for polycythemia vera. Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic form of non life-threatening blood cancer.
What is the goal of a hematologist?
Another goal of treatment is to reduce complications and side effects. This includes headaches and itchiness, which are caused by a blockage of blood flow. Your hematologist, a specialist in blood diseases, will be the doctor in charge of your treatment. They will discuss your treatment options, which will take into account the stage ...
What to do if PV doesn't respond to aspirin?
Drug Treatment Options. If your PV doesn’t respond well to an aspirin and phlebotomy regimen, your next option is prescription drugs. Hydroxyurea is a prescription drug and will likely be the first course of action after initial treatment. It’s considered a mild form of chemotherapy.
Is there a cure for PV?
Because there’s no complete cure for PV, advances in research and treatments are ongoing. The discovery of the JAK2 gene and its mutation was a huge step forward in the understanding of PV. A search for the cause of this mutation continues, and once it’s found, you may see even more advances in treatment options.
Is hydroxyurea a form of chemotherapy?
It’s considered a mild form of chemotherapy. It limits the number of cells made by the bone marrow and is usually taken if you’re at higher risk than others for blood clots. Some common side effects of hydroxyurea include allergic reactions, low blood counts, infection, and others.
How common is polycythemia?
Polycythemia is more common in adults over 60 years of age, and about one in every 200,000 people is diagnosed each year with the condition (Source: NHLBI ). In the early stages of polycythemia, symptoms may be mild and include flushed face, dizziness, and impaired senses. In more severe cases, thrombosis (blood clotting) may occur, ...
What are the symptoms of polycythemia?
Symptoms of polycythemia include symptoms related to excessive thickening of the blood, such as reddened face, bleeding of the gums, dizziness, and itchiness. Polycythemia can also affect the eyes and ears, leading to blurred vision or tinnitus. In more serious cases of polycythemia, thrombosis (clotting) can develop, ...
What is the condition where the bone marrow makes excess blood cells?
Polycythemia is a blood condition in which the bone marrow makes excess blood cells, primarily red blood cells, but also platelets and white blood cells. The extra cells cause a thickening of the blood, which increases the risk of blood clotting, in turn potentially causing strokes, heart attacks, and other complications.
What is the function of erythropoietin?
Erythropoietin is in charge of regulating the body’s supply of red blood cells. When overproduced, erythropoietin can cause thickening of the blood, leading to the symptoms of polycythemia. Often, this type of polycythemia can be treated by addressing the cause of oxygen shortage.
What is the best way to reduce red blood cell count?
This can be performed by periodic blood draws to reduce red blood cell count. In some cases, medications may be administered to suppress the bone marrow and reduce blood cell counts, including hydroxyurea and interferon.
Can polycythemia cause difficulty breathing?
Polycythemia may also lead to less severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing when lying down or excessive bleeding. Seek prompt medical care if these symptoms persist, as early diagnosis and intervention are critical to preventing more severe symptoms.
Can polycythemia cause heart attacks?
While the progression of polycythemia is generally slow and most patients do not experience complications, there can be rare incidences of problems related to polycythemia. People with polycythemia are at increased risk of developing blood clots, which can lead to strokes and heart attacks if untreated.
What is the treatment for polycythemia vera?
The primary treatment of polycythemia vera is therapeutic phlebotomy. In therapeutic phlebotomy , blood is removed from the body similar to a blood donation to reduce the number of red blood cells in circulation. Therapeutic phlebotomy is continued on a regular basis to keep the hematocrit (concentration of red blood cells) below 45%, ...
How does phlebotomy treat polycythemia vera?
Phlebotomy treats polycythemia vera in two ways: by decreasing the number of blood cells by physically removing them from the body and by causing an iron deficiency that limits new red blood cell production.
How long does polycythemia vera last?
Fortunately, with treatment, survival increases from six to 18 months to 13 years or more. One of the challenges in treating polycythemia vera is that more than 12 percent of people will transform into myelofibrosis and around 7 percent will develop acute leukemia/ myelodysplastic syndrome . In contrast to most people with essential ...
What is polycythemia vera?
Updated on September 24, 2020. Polycythemia vera, a myeloproliferative neoplasm, results from a genetic mutation which leads to the production of too many red blood cells ( erythrocytosis ). The white blood cell and platelet counts may also be elevated. This increase in the number of blood cells (without an increase in the liquid portion of blood) ...
What is the hematocrit of a phlebotomist?
Therapeutic phlebotomy is continued on a regular basis to keep the hematocrit (concentration of red blood cells) below 45% , though some physicians will use different targets depending on gender (45% for men and 42% for women).
What is the first medication added to therapeutic phlebotomy?
Often the first medication added to therapeutic phlebotomy is oral hydroxyurea.
Does hydroxyurea affect platelets?
It also reduces the production of white blood cells and platelets. Similar to other conditions treated with hydroxyurea, it is started at a low dose and increased until the hematocrit is in the goal range. It is normally well tolerated with few side effects other than the decreased production of blood cells.