Polycythemia vera (PV) is a slow growing blood cancer characterized by an overproduction of red blood cells. The excess cells thicken the blood, slowing down the flow, which could lead to blood clots. PV is almost always caused by a mutation of the JAK2 gene. JAK2 is acquired by blood stem cells and leads to excessive production of primarily red blood cells. PV can be diagnosed in people presenting with no symptoms who go to their primary care physician for a workup and a high red blood cell count is discovered. Patients that do present with symptoms may have increased fatigue, shortness of breath, or headaches which can indicate a number of different problems leading to an increased number of tests to determine a diagnosis. The general PV treatment is to control the red blood cell count through phlebotomies, which takes large amounts of blood out and filters it to normalize the cell counts. Cytoreductive therapies, such as hydroxyurea and interferon, are also treatment methods that reduce a person’s red blood cell count over time. The Weill Cornell Medicine Richard T. Silver Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Center evaluates patients on a case-by-case basis to determine their treatment needs. In addition to these therapies, aspirin may also be beneficial as it reduces the risk of blood clots or cardiovascular events in these patients.
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