Polycythemia Vera

In a retrospective analysis, researchers sought to determine the use of cytoreductive therapies in patients with high-risk and low-risk PV.

Researchers assessed outcomes for 587 patients with PV to determine the risk factors most likely to predict arterial or venous thrombosis in this patient population.

Data presented at ASH 2017 confirm that ruxolitinib improves hematocrit control, hematologic remission, and reduction in spleen size in some patients with polycythemia vera who fail hydroxyurea.

This case of a 63-year-old African American male with a complicated history illustrates the need for a comprehensive risk assessment of thrombosis in patients with primary polycythemia vera, especially those with concomitant conditions that predispose to thrombosis.

Methotrexate, a medication used commonly in the treatment of arthritis, shows promise as a treatment for polycythemia vera, a blood cancer classified as a myeloproliferative neoplasm.

Predisposition genes for familial polycythemia vera were identified via exome sequencing in a Finnish family with 4 patients.