Polycythemia is the increase of the red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and total red blood cell volume, accompanied by an increase in total blood volume. Polycythemia vera (PV) is a disorder of unknown etiology involving a multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cell that is characterized by the accumulation of phenotypically normal red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the absence of a definable cause; extramedullary hematopoiesis, marrow fibrosis, and, in a few patients, transformation to acute leukemia can also occur. First described in 1892, the cause of the disease remains unknown and no potentially curative therapy other than bone marrow transplantation is currently available. This acquired disorder is often associated with thrombocytosis, leukocytosis and splenomegaly.

Polycythemia vera Diagnosis - Polycythemia rubra vera
Diagnosis of polycythemia vera is based on basic clinical and biological abnormalities. Sometimes, positive diagnosis required more sophisticated tests as assay of endogenous erythroid colony, erythropoietin blood level and bone marrow biopsy. Usually the natural history of disease remains long with a good quality of life. In some cases complications occur: mainly thrombosis and late myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis and acute leukemia.

Polycythemia vera Treatment
The aim is to reduce hyper viscosity complications and to avoid therapeutic induced leukemia. Therapeutic approaches remain complex and difficult to optimize based up on age and disease severity.
     Polycythemia vera, if untreated, leads to thrombohemorrhagic complications and eventually to progressive myelofibrosis of the marrow, anemia, and splenomegaly. Two new drugs are now available, interferon and imatinib mesylate, may alter the course of this disease. Used as single agents, each produces lasting remissions in about 75% of the cases.

Symptom of polycythemia
People with polycythemia vera sometimes have no symptoms for years. The earliest polycythemia vera  symptoms usually are weakness, fatigue, headache, light-headedness, shortness of breath, and night sweats. Vision may be distorted, and a person may have blind spots or may see flashes of light. Bleeding from the gums and more bleeding than would be expected from small cuts are common. The skin, especially the face, may look red. A person may itch all over, particularly after bathing or showering. Burning sensations in the hands and feet or, more rarely, bone pain may be felt.

Musher had Polycythemia Vera
Four-time Iditarod champion Susan Butcher died in August, 2006 in a Seattle hospital of complications from a bone marrow transplant. She was 51. Three years ago, when Susan Butcher was considering a comeback, doctors found she had polycythemia vera. Butcher planned to compete in a 300-mile race in winter 2006, but was unable to compete after she was diagnosed with leukemia.

Polycythemia vera questions
Q. Is there a cure for polycythemia vera?
   A. I am not aware of a polycthemia vera cure at this time.

Q. Is green tea and green tea supplements safe for patients with polycythemia vera?
   A. We have not come across such research regarding the use of green tea in polycythemia vera, so we don't know.

Q. On of the less than perfect days of my life happened a little over 20 months ago when diagnosed with bilateral renal cell carcinoma with mets to lymph and liver and in reality given only about 4 to 6 months to live. I was successful in stopping the cancer within 5 months using only supplements and diet, BUT seemed to have stumbled across something else to keep me amused. Polycythemia vera appears to have become part of my life.
     A. I have not studied polycythemia vera in much detail and do not have personal experience with herbs for this condition. However, you could take a look at the cancer page for more info. We wish you the best healing possible.

Q. Will lipoic acid be helpful in polycythemia vera?
   A. I don't know.

Q. My 75 year old Mother has polycythemia vera. She is under doctors supervision, takes hydroxy urea and blood pressure meds, and gets regular phlebotomies. She asked me to order a homeopathic remedy / product specific to polycythemia vera called Veritin from a website http://www.veritin.com. I have tried, without results, to find out if this is a legitimate site and product. While I firmly believe in alternative medicine, I am also aware that scams abound and require caution. I have followed your health columns through other sites and appreciate your integrity. Can you advise?
   A. As of February 2008, I could not find any published studies in the medical literature regarding the treatment of polycythemia vera with Veritin. I am not a big believer in homeopathic remedies.

This polycythemia vera page was last updated February 2008.