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 may cause shortness of breath, dizziness, itchy or flushed skin, fatigue and headaches. Also, your hands and feet may become blue and tender. Sometimes a person with PV may have abnormal blood clots, which could lead to a stroke. This disease rarely occurs early in life. Most cases occur in people who are around 60 years old.

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.

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. Treatment also may include a medicine that keeps the bone marrow from making too many red blood cells. Doctors also will try to treat the itchy skin and burning pain that you may experience.

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