What Is Polycythemia Vera?

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a blood cancer that begins in the marrow of your bones, the soft center where new blood cells grow. It causes your marrow to make too many red blood cells so your blood is too thick. You may be more likely to have clots, a stroke, or a heart attack.

This disease gets worse slowly, usually over many years. It can be life-threatening if you don't get treatment, but the right care can help you live a long life.

Most people who have PV don’t get diagnosed until they’re 60 or older, usually after a routine blood test. But it can happen at any age. Men get it more often than women.

It's common to worry when you find out that you have cancer. Remember that everyone is different and that all cancers aren’t the same. With the support of your doctor, family, friends, and other people who have polycythemia vera, you’ll be in the best position to manage it.

CAUSES

Red blood cells carry oxygen, white ones fight infections, and platelets clot your blood to stop bleeding.

Most people with polycythemia vera have too many red blood cells. But it can also cause you to have too many white blood cells and platelets.

PV is caused by a gene (either JAK2 or TET2) that doesn’t work the way it should. Most likely, the problem happened over the course of your life. Rarely, parents can pass these faulty genes to children.

SYMPTOMS

• HeadachesDouble vision
• Dark or blind spots in your vision that come and go
• Itching all over your body, especially after you've been in warm or hot water
• Sweating, especially at night
• A red face that looks like sunburn or blushing
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Weight loss
• Shortness of breath
• Tingling or burning in your hands or feet
• Painful joint swelling

DIAGNOSIS

Complete blood count (CBC). Your doctor takes a sample of your blood and sends it to a lab, where a machine counts the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. An unusually high number of any of these could be a sign of polycythemia vera.

Blood smear. Your doctor looks at a sample of your blood through a microscope. It's a way to check for other diseases that are sometimes linked to PV.

EPO level. This test measures how much of the hormone EPO is in your blood. EPO tells your bone marrow to make blood cells. People who have polycythemia vera have very low amounts of it.

CONCLUSION

The Journal will publish original articles, reviews, technical notes, editorials, news and views (commentaries, science policy issues, ethical and legal issues, patient organizations, industry needs and alliances, regulatory issues, etc.), and letters to the editor.

The Journal invites different types of articles including original research article, review articles, short note communications, case reports, Editorials, letters to the Editors and expert opinions & commentaries from different regions for publication.

 The Journals includes around 150Abstracts and 100 Keynote speakers have given their valuable words. The meet has provided a great scope for interaction of professionals including in addition to clinical experts and top-level pathologists and scientists from around the globe, on a single platform.

Media Contact:
ALPINE
Managing Editor
Journal of Molecular Oncology Research
Email: oncology@openaccessjournal.org