What is the best treatment for polycythemia vera?

The most common treatment for polychythemia vera is having frequent blood withdrawals, using a needle in a vein (phlebotomy). It’s the same procedure used for donating blood. This decreases your blood volume and reduces the number of excess blood cells.

How to treat erythrocytosis?

Treatment for Erythrocytosis Primary erythrocytosis may be treated with phlebotomy, which is when some of your blood is taken out to remove excess red blood cells and improve your blood flow. This is the primary treatment for polycythemia vera. Secondary erythrocytosis is treated by treating the underlying cause.

How is secondary polycythemia treated?

The main treatments for secondary polycythemia are:

  1. low-dose aspirin to thin your blood.
  2. bloodletting, also known as phlebotomy or venesection.

What are the odds of getting polycythemia vera?

The disorder is estimated to affect approximately 44 to 57 per 100,000 people in the US. It occurs most often in individuals more than 60 years old, but can affect individuals of any age. It is extremely rare in individuals under 20.

How long can you live with polycythemia vera?

Recent studies estimate the average life expectancy after diagnosis with polycythemia vera to be about 20 years. The average age of death is about 77. The most common cause of death is complications from blood clots (about 33%). Advancing cancer is the second most common cause (15%).

Is erythrocytosis harmful?

Without treatment, erythrocytosis can increase your risk for blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. It can also increase your risk for leukemia and other types of blood cancers. Getting treatment that lowers the number of RBCs your body produces can reduce your symptoms and prevent complications.

What is the most common cause of secondary polycythemia?

Secondary polycythemia most often develops as a response to chronic hypoxemia, which triggers increased production of erythropoietin by the kidneys. The most common causes of secondary polycythemia include obstructive sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

What is the difference between polycythemia vera and secondary polycythemia?

Secondary polycythemia is defined as an absolute increase in red blood cell mass that is caused by enhanced stimulation of red blood cell production. In contrast, polycythemia vera is characterized by bone marrow with an inherent increased proliferative activity.

How many years can you live with polycythemia vera?