Polycythemia
For patient information on Neonatal polycythemia, click here
For patient information on Polycythemia vera, click here
| Polycythemia | |
| ICD-10 | D45, D75.1 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 238.4, 289.0, 776.4 |
| DiseasesDB | 10295 |
| MeSH | D011086 |
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Polycythemia Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Polycythemia On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Polycythemia |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Debduti Mukhopadhyay, M.B.B.S[2], Zaida Obeidat, M.D.
Synonyms and keywords: Polycythaemia, erythrocythemia, erythrocytosis, packed cell volume increased, PCV increased, primary familial and congenital polycythemia, PFCP, familial erythrocytosis, hereditary erythrocytosis, congenital erythrocytosis, inherited erythrocytosis
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Polycythemia from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Overview
- Medicines that may be used include:[1]
- Hydroxyurea: it considered as a second-line therapy, it showed lower rates of thrombosis compared to phlebotomy alone based on a study by the PVSG.
Indications for use include poor venous access, high phlebotomy requirement, when phlebotomy is contraindicated or not possible, severe thrombocytosis, and unmanageable pruritus.
- Interferon: reduce blood cell counts. Peg interferon can be used to reduce established splenomegaly but not to normal size.
- Anagrelide: used to treat thrombocytosis.
- Ruxolitinib (JAK1/2 inhibitor): it used when patients are intolerant or unresponsive to hydroxyurea, proved to be effective in PPMF and chronic-phase PV; provided a durable relief in symptoms, blood count control, significant reduction in splenomegaly, and better survival based on COMFORT trials.[2]
- Aspirin: indicated at low dose to prevent thrombosis, when there is insufficient control of microvascular symptoms or other cardiovascular risk factors exist.
- Hypouricemic Agents (Allopurinol and febuxostat): required if there is significant hyperuricemia.
- Management of pruritus: antihistamines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are usually used to relief the symptoms, narrow band ultraviolet-B phototherapy can also be used to treat pruritus.[3]
Sumptomatic Treatment in Polycythemia Vera[4]
| Symptoms | Treatment |
|---|---|
| Pruritus | H1 and H2 blocking antihistamines (diphenhydramine [Benadryl], cyproheptadine [Periactin], hydroxyzine [Atarax, Vistaril], fexofenadine [Allegra], terfenadine [Seldane]) Paroxetine (Paxil) Oatmeal or starch baths (in lukewarm water) Recombinant interferon alfa-2b (intronA) |
| Erythromelalgia | Aspirin, 50 to 100 mg daily Myelosuppressive agents |
Myelosuppressive Agents for the Treatment of Polycythemia Vera[4]
| Agent | Class | Common side effects | Uncommon side effects | Percautions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroxyurea (Hydrea) | Antimetabolite | Anemia, neutropenia, oral ulcers, skin ulcers, hyperpigmentation, nail changes | Leg ulcers, nausea, diarrhea, fever, elevated liver function test results | Renal disease |
| Recombinant interferon alfa-2b (Intron A) | Myelosuppressive | Influenza-like symptoms, fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, alopecia, headache, nausea, insomnia, body pain | Confusion, depression, autoimmunity, hyperlipidemia | Psychiatric disease, cardiovascular disease |
| Radioactive phosphorus | Radiopharmaceutica | Anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, Leukemia may develop after treatment | Diarrhea, fever, nausea, emesis | — |
| Busulfan (Myleran) | Alkylating agent | Pancytopenia, hyperpigmentation, ovarian suppression | Pulmonary fibrosis, leukemia, seizure, hepatic veno-occlusion | Seizure disorder |
Treatment
Polycythemia vera is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by increased red blood cell mass leading to hyperviscosity of the blood which increases the risk of thrombosis. Thrombosis is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, the main goal of treatment is to prevent thrombotic events include arterial and venous thrombosis, cerebrovascular accident, deep venous thrombosis, myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial occlusion, and pulmonary infarct. In addition to symptomatic treatment of pruritus and distal extremity erythromelalgia.
- Phlebotomy: the backbone of therapy, treatment with phlebotomy alone associated with a longer median survival compared to the use of chlorambucil or radioactive phosphorous based on a trial conducted by PV study group. Repeated phlebotomies help in cytoreduction and reduce hyper-viscosity in addition to induce a state of iron-deficiency which can help retard red-cell proliferation. Weekly sessions are conducted, by remove 500ml of blood until a target hematocrit of under 45% is obtained. This can lower rates of cardiovascular deaths and major thrombotic episodes in patients kept under this threshold based on a trial conducted in Italy. For secondary polycythemias, phlebotomy is usually reserved for the following conditions:
Medicines that may be used include:[1]
- Hydroxyurea: it considered as a second-line therapy, it showed lower rates of thrombosis compared to phlebotomy alone based on a study by the PVSG.
Indications for use include poor venous access, high phlebotomy requirement, when phlebotomy is contraindicated or not possible, severe thrombocytosis, and unmanageable pruritus.
- Interferon: reduce blood cell counts. Peg interferon can be used to reduce established splenomegaly but not to normal size.
- Anagrelide: used to treat thrombocytosis.
- Ruxolitinib (JAK1/2 inhibitor): it used when patients are intolerant or unresponsive to hydroxyurea, proved to be effective in PPMF and chronic-phase PV; provided a durable relief in symptoms, blood count control, significant reduction in splenomegaly, and better survival based on COMFORT trials.[2]
- Aspirin: indicated at low dose to prevent thrombosis, when there is insufficient control of microvascular symptoms or other cardiovascular risk factors exist.
- Hypouricemic Agents (Allopurinol and febuxostat): required if there is significant hyperuricemia.
- Management of pruritus: antihistamines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are usually used to relief the symptoms, narrow band ultraviolet-B phototherapy can also be used to treat pruritus.[3]
Case Studies
de:Polycythaemia vera eu:Eritrozitosi it:Policitemia he:פוליציטמיה lt:Eritrocitozė
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Spivak JL (2019). "How I treat polycythemia vera". Blood. 134 (4): 341–352. doi:10.1182/blood.2018834044. PMID 31151982.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harrison C, Kiladjian JJ, Al-Ali HK, Gisslinger H, Waltzman R, Stalbovskaya V; et al. (2012). "JAK inhibition with ruxolitinib versus best available therapy for myelofibrosis". N Engl J Med. 366 (9): 787–98. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1110556. PMID 22375970.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Madkan VK, Bandow GD, Koo JY (2005). "Resolution of pruritus secondary to polycythemia vera in a patient treated with narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy". J Dermatolog Treat. 16 (1): 56–7. doi:10.1080/09546630410024529. PMID 15897170.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Stuart BJ, Viera AJ (2004). "Polycythemia vera". Am Fam Physician. 69 (9): 2139–44. PMID 15152961.
- ↑ Assi TB, Baz E (2014). "Current applications of therapeutic phlebotomy". Blood Transfus. 12 Suppl 1: s75–83. doi:10.2450/2013.0299-12. PMC 3934278. PMID 24120605.
- ↑ "StatPearls". 2020. PMID 30252337.