Polycythemia Vera

Polycythemia (say: "polly-sigh-thee-me-ah") vera (PV) is a disease in which your body makes too many red blood cells. Your blood may become too thick. This causes serious health problems. PV increases the risk of abnormal blood clots, which could lead to a stroke. This disease occurs most often in people who are about 60 years old or older.

In its early stages, PV usually doesn't cause any symptoms. As the disease progresses, symptoms include:

PV may begin with a bone marrow problem. Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones that makes blood cells. When bone marrow makes too many red blood cells, the result is PV.

If you have symptoms of PV, your doctor may examine you and order blood tests. Sometimes the disease may be found by accident when you have blood work done for another reason. Your doctor will need to speak with a hematologist (a doctor who treats blood disorders) to make the diagnosis. If he or she suspects you may have PV, you may need to have a bone marrow biopsy. This is when a small part of your bone marrow is removed and examined for signs of PV.

PV is a serious illness that can cause death. However, with new treatments, people who have the disease are living longer.

There is no single treatment for PV. Doctors must adjust the treatment to each patient. Treatment may include a phlebotomy (say: "fluh-bot-oh-mee"). In this treatment, some of your blood is removed to help keep the number of red blood cells down and lower the risk of blood clots. Treatment also may include a medicine that keeps the bone marrow from making too many red blood cells. Doctors can also treat the itchy skin and burning pain that you may experience with medicine.

There is no cure for PV. The goal is to make your life better by treating the symptoms and helping you to live longer.