What is acute polycythemia?
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. Polycythemia vera is rare.
What labs are abnormal in polycythemia vera?
Nonspecific laboratory abnormalities that may occur in polycythemia vera include elevated vitamin B12 and B12-binding capacity, hyperuricemia and hyperuricosuria (present in ≥ 80% of patients), and decreased expression of MPL (the receptor for thrombopoietin) in megakaryocytes and platelets.
What blood test shows polycythemia?
To diagnose PV, your doctor will perform a test called a complete blood count (CBC) to see if your number of red blood cells is higher than normal. Your doctor may also test your blood to look for amounts of a hormone called erythropoietin. Lower-than-normal levels of this hormone can be a sign of PV.
What is polycythemia vera characterized by?
Polycythemia vera is a condition characterized by an increased number of red blood cells in the bloodstream. Affected individuals may also have excess white blood cells and blood clotting cells called platelets. These extra cells and platelets cause the blood to be thicker than normal.
Is polycythemia a form of leukemia?
In rare cases, polycythemia vera may eventually progress into a form of leukemia known as acute myeloid leukemia.
What is the RBC count in polycythemia vera?
Hemoglobin levels greater than 16.5 g/dL (grams per deciliter) in women and greater than 18.5 g/dL in men suggest polycythemia. In terms of hematocrit, a value greater than 48 in women and 52 in men is indicative of polycythemia.
Is polycythemia vera a form of leukemia?
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.
Is polycythemia a terminal illness?
Leukemia is another long-term complication of PV. Specifically, both acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are associated with polycythemia vera. AML is more common. You may need specialized treatment that also focuses on leukemia management if this complication develops.
Can polycythemia vera kill you?
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.
What is the effect of polycythemia vera on blood flow?
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. Polycythemia vera is rare.
Is there a cure for polycythemia vera?
There’s no cure for polycythemia vera, but with appropriate medical care, many patients can live with it and enjoy relatively good health. Treatment involves reducing the total number of red blood cells by drawing blood from a vein (phlebotomy) and medication to reduce the number of new red blood cells being made.
Does polycythemia vera lead to other health problems?
In rare cases, polycythemia vera can lead to other blood diseases, including a progressive disorder in which bone marrow is replaced with scar tissue, a condition in which stem cells don’t mature or function properly, or cancer of the blood and bone marrow (acute leukemia).