What Is Polycythemia Vera (PV)?
Polycythemia Vera (PV) is a rare blood disorder in which the number of red blood cells increases in the body. This increase of blood cell have many reasons, it could be due to a primary process in the bone marrow also known as Myeloproliferative Syndrome, or it may be due to low Oxygen levels or, rarely, a malignancy.

This increase in red blood cell makes blood thicker and and blood moves slowly through the body. The thick, slow-flowing blood can form clots, which is a major complication of PV since it can lead to heart attack or stroke.

What Is MPD (Myeloproliferative Disease)?
MPD is literally "Marrow Proliferative Disease" or improper function of the bone marrow organ.

Bone Marrow is the soft tissue located in the cavities of bones and is responsible for Blood cell and platelet production. When Bone Marrow start producing more than normal blood cell, then this condition is called MPD (Myeloproliferative Disease)


Who Can Get Polycythemia Vera?
Polycythemia Vera is basically a disease of older age but can be found in young people but its very rare. More men are affected by PV than women. Its frequency is also low. There are only about five cases per year for every one million people.

It is more common in adults older than sixty years. It is more prevalent among Jews of Eastern European descent.

What Causes Polycythemia Vera?
Genetic studies suggest that the change in DNA begins Polycythemia Vera (PV). The change in the DNA is known as mutation. PV is a disorder that begins with a single mutation in one cell. A mutation in the JAK 2 gene causes PV.


What Are The Symptomsof PV?
Polycythemia Vera (PV) is a very slow developing blood disorder. It is very much possible for PV patients to have no symptoms for years afterdeveloping the condition.

The few symptoms of PV are Weight loss, Shortness of breath, Itching after getting warm shower or bath, Redness of face, Headache and Faintness, Pain in Chest, Tiredness, Weakness in hands, feet, arms or legs, Feeling of numbness, Tngling or burning, Feeling of fullness or bloating in left upper abdomen due to an enlarged spleen, Visual impairment, Excessive bleeding and bruising.

Not everyone experiences all of the symptoms, or even if they are experienced they may not link them to any illness.

How Is Polycythemia Vera Diagnosed?
PV may be found in normal routine blood tests. While diagnosing PV doctors will also consider patient age, do physical exam, take some test and go through the patient's overall health. Doctor will look for signs of Polycythemia during physical exam, including enlargement of the spleen, reddened skin on the face, and bleeding from the gums.

After the confirmation of PV, the next step is to find out the type of Polycythemia. For this purpose the levels of Erythropoietin (EPO) are checked. Primary PV or Polycythemia Vera (PV) will present low levels of EPO.