Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Polycythemia vera

Polycythemia is a condition in which there is a net increase in the total circulating erythrocyte (red blood cell) mass of the body. There are several types of polycythemia. more...

Home
Diseases
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Arthritis
Arthritis
Bubonic plague
Hypokalemia
Pachydermoperiostosis
Pachygyria
Pacman syndrome
Paget's disease of bone
Paget's disease of the...
Palmoplantar Keratoderma
Pancreas divisum
Pancreatic cancer
Panhypopituitarism
Panic disorder
Panniculitis
Panophobia
Panthophobia
Papilledema
Paraganglioma
Paramyotonia congenita
Paraphilia
Paraplegia
Parapsoriasis
Parasitophobia
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinsonism
Paroxysmal nocturnal...
Patau syndrome
Patent ductus arteriosus
Pathophobia
Patterson...
Pediculosis
Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic lipomatosis
Pemphigus
Pemphigus
Pemphigus
Pendred syndrome
Periarteritis nodosa
Perinatal infections
Periodontal disease
Peripartum cardiomyopathy
Peripheral neuropathy
Peritonitis
Periventricular leukomalacia
Pernicious anemia
Perniosis
Persistent sexual arousal...
Pertussis
Pes planus
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
Peyronie disease
Pfeiffer syndrome
Pharmacophobia
Phenylketonuria
Pheochromocytoma
Photosensitive epilepsy
Pica (disorder)
Pickardt syndrome
Pili multigemini
Pilonidal cyst
Pinta
PIRA
Pityriasis lichenoides...
Pityriasis lichenoides et...
Pityriasis rubra pilaris
Placental abruption
Pleural effusion
Pleurisy
Pleuritis
Plummer-Vinson syndrome
Pneumoconiosis
Pneumocystis jiroveci...
Pneumocystosis
Pneumonia, eosinophilic
Pneumothorax
POEMS syndrome
Poland syndrome
Poliomyelitis
Polyarteritis nodosa
Polyarthritis
Polychondritis
Polycystic kidney disease
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Polycythemia vera
Polydactyly
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Polymyositis
Polyostotic fibrous...
Pompe's disease
Popliteal pterygium syndrome
Porencephaly
Porphyria
Porphyria cutanea tarda
Portal hypertension
Portal vein thrombosis
Post Polio syndrome
Post-traumatic stress...
Postural hypotension
Potophobia
Poxviridae disease
Prader-Willi syndrome
Precocious puberty
Preeclampsia
Premature aging
Premenstrual dysphoric...
Presbycusis
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Primary ciliary dyskinesia
Primary hyperparathyroidism
Primary lateral sclerosis
Primary progressive aphasia
Primary pulmonary...
Primary sclerosing...
Prinzmetal's variant angina
Proconvertin deficiency,...
Proctitis
Progeria
Progressive external...
Progressive multifocal...
Progressive supranuclear...
Prostatitis
Protein S deficiency
Protein-energy malnutrition
Proteus syndrome
Prune belly syndrome
Pseudocholinesterase...
Pseudogout
Pseudohermaphroditism
Pseudohypoparathyroidism
Pseudomyxoma peritonei
Pseudotumor cerebri
Pseudovaginal...
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum
Psittacosis
Psoriasis
Psychogenic polydipsia
Psychophysiologic Disorders
Pterygium
Ptosis
Pubic lice
Puerperal fever
Pulmonary alveolar...
Pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary sequestration
Pulmonary valve stenosis
Pulmonic stenosis
Pure red cell aplasia
Purpura
Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch
Purpura, thrombotic...
Pyelonephritis
Pyoderma gangrenosum
Pyomyositis
Pyrexiophobia
Pyrophobia
Pyropoikilocytosis
Pyrosis
Pyruvate kinase deficiency
Uveitis
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Medicines

Types

Primary polycythemia (also known as polycythemia vera)

Primary polycythemia, often called polycythemia vera (PCV), polycythemia rubra vera (PRV), erythremia, or just PV, occurs when excess erythrocytes are produced as a result of a proliferative abnormality of the bone marrow. This can also be brought on by abnormalities (tumors) in the kidneys or other growths since the kidney helps to regulate erythrocytes production. Often, excess white blood cells (leukocytosis) and platelets (thrombocytosis) are also produced. It is, therefore, classified as a myeloproliferative disease.

In primary polycythemia there may be 8 to 9 million and occasionally 11 million erythrocytes per cubic millimeter of blood, and the hematocrit may be as high as 70 to 80%. In addition, the total blood volume sometimes increases to as much as twice normal. The entire vascular system can become markedly engorged with blood, and circulation times for blood throughout the body can increase up to twice the normal value. The increased numbers of erythrocytes can increase the viscosity of the blood to as much as five times normal. Capillaries can become plugged by the very viscous blood, and the flow of blood through the vessels tends to be extremely sluggish.

Recently, in 2005, a mutation in the JAK2 kinase (V617F) was found by multiple research groups (Baxter et al., 2005; Levine et al., 2005) to be strongly associated with polycythemia vera. JAK2 is a member of the Janus kinase family. This mutation be helpful in making a diagnosis or as a target for future therapy.

As a consequence of the above, people with untreated PV are at a risk of various thrombotic events (deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism), heart attack and stroke, and have a substantial risk of Budd-Chiari syndrome (hepatic vein thrombosis). The condition is considered chronic; no cure exists. Symptomatic treatment (see below) can normalize the blood count and most patients can live a normal life for years.

Secondary polycythemia

Secondary polycythemia is caused by either appropriate or inappropriate increases in the production of erythropoietin that result in an increased production of erythrocytes. In secondary polycythemia their may be 6 to 8 million and occasionally 9 million erythrocytes per cubic millimeter of blood. A type of secondary polycythemia in which the production of erythropoietin increases appropriately is called physiologic polycythemia. Physiologic polycythemia occurs in individuals living at high altitudes (4275 to 5200 meters), where oxygen availability is less than at sea level. Such people may have 6 to 8 million erythrocytes per cubic millimeter of blood. It is because of this that Lance Armstrong trains in the mountains to prepare for bicycle races.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]


ONC8 Splenomegaly with massive hemorrhagic infarction complicating polycythemia vera. (Oncology).(Brief Article) : An article from: Southern Medical Journal $5.95 Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine : Polycythemia vera $5.99
Polycythemia Vera: A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, And Annotated Research Guide To Internet References $39.41 Polycythemia Vera Evaluation Algorithm Revisited/In reply : An article from: Mayo Clinic Proceedings $20.00
Polycythemia Vera and the Myeloproliferative Disorders $139.41 Molecular Basis of Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders $118.42
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine : Hemoglobin test $2.30 Diagnosing polycythemia vera: A paradigm shift : An article from: Mayo Clinic Proceedings $20.00
Polycythemia vera: A comprehensive review and clinical recommendations : An article from: Mayo Clinic Proceedings $20.00 CE forum: Diagnosing polycythemia vera : An article from: Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners $20.00

Polycythemia vera
Polycythemia vera is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by increased red blood cell mass. The resultant hyperviscosity of the blood predisposes such patients to thrombosis. Polycyth
Polycythemia vera
Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic blood disorder marked by an abnormal increase in three types of blood cells produced by bone marrow: red blood cells ...
Polycythemia vera
What is 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 ...
Treatment of polycythemia vera - Tips - Author Abstract
Polycythemia vera (PV) is one of three chronic myeloproliferative disorders, along with essential thrombocythemia and myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia.
Polycythemia Vera and Essential Thrombocythemia
Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia are chronic myeloproliferative diseases. The main goal of treatment in patients with these conditions ...
Therapy of hypereosinophilic syndrome, polycythemia vera, atypical CML or CMML with PDGF-R fusion genes, or mastocytosis with Gleevec
This study is currently recruiting patients. Sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The goal of this clinical research study is to see if Gleevec[R], ...
Secondary polycythemia
Secondary polycythemia is an acquired form of a rare disorder characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of mature red cells in the blood.
Analysis of Red Cell Mass and Plasma Volume in Patients With Polycythemia
Context.-Polycythemia describes an increased proportion of red blood cells in the peripheral blood. In absolute polycythemia, there is increased red cell ...

Home Contact Resources Exchange Links ebay