Polycythemia Vera (PV) Education | Blood Cancer
Polycythemia Vera (PV)
Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic blood cancer characterized by the overproduction of red blood cells (erythrocytosis) in the bone marrow. People with PV can experience burdensome symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, itching and more.
When hematocrit, or the ratio of red blood cells to the total amount of blood in the body, is elevated, the excess of red blood cells increases blood viscosity, or thickness, and can result in serious cardiovascular and thrombotic events such as stroke, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism.1,2,3,4 The median age at diagnosis is 60 years.1
The Reality of Living with Polycythemia Vera: Patti’s Story
For Patti, PV began long before she had a name for it. She always considered herself healthy, so her symptoms of fatigue, itchy skin (pruritus), insomnia, numbness and tingling went unrecognized as signs of PV for a long time. It wasn’t until an annual checkup revealed abnormal platelet levels that she finally received her PV diagnosis.
Watch Patti’s story to learn what it’s really like to live with PV, as well as her perspective on the importance of advocating for yourself.
Symptoms and Impact
Patients with PV may experience a range of symptoms that affect daily life1:
- Fatigue
- Itching (pruritus)
- Headaches
- Weakness
- Dizziness or balance issues
- Visual changes
- Night sweats
- Difficulty concentrating
Not every patient will experience the same set or severity of symptoms.
Hematocrit and Disease Management
In PV, the key treatment goal is to achieve and maintain a hematocrit level below 45%. Hematocrit is the ratio of red blood cells to the total amount of blood in the body.5
Controlled hematocrit can reduce the risk of clotting events and alleviate symptoms.5 Without controlled hematocrit, patients can have serious consequences, including:
- A 4x higher risk of death from cardiovascular and thrombotic events.
- High symptom burden.2
Common approaches to reduce hematocrit include phlebotomy (removal of blood from the body) and medications designed to lower red blood cell counts.6
Current Treatment Approaches
Despite available treatment strategies:
Up to 78% of patients in real-world studies still experience uncontrolled hematocrit with standard of care, putting them at continued higher risk of cardiovascular and thrombotic events, as well as high symptom burden.6
Phlebotomy may help reduce hematocrit, but could also:
- Contribute to iron deficiency.
- Cause or worsen symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, weakness or visual disturbances.
- Lead to a burden on patients’ quality of life.7,8
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic blood cancer characterized by the overproduction of red blood cells (erythocytosis). This can lead to thicker blood and an increased risk of life-threatening thrombotic events including stroke, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism.1
Diagnosis uses blood tests and may include bone marrow evaluation and mutation testing.1
PV most often affects individuals over the age of 60, although it can occur at younger ages. Both men and women can develop PV.1
If not managed, PV can increase the likelihood of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks or other cardiovascular and thrombotic events by four times compared to the general population.2
Regular blood tests and physician follow-ups are important to check hematocrit levels, track symptoms and monitor disease progression.
The current standard of care approach for PV includes phlebotomy and cytoreductive treatments. With standard of care, an estimated 78% of patients still experience uncontrolled hematocrit levels, putting them at higher risk for cardiovascular and thrombotic events.2
Note: These FAQs are for educational purposes only and do not substitute medical advice. Patients should always consult their healthcare provider.
Additional Resources
- Lu X, Chang R. Polycythemia Vera. [Updated 2023 Apr 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557660/
- Marchioli R, et al. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:22-33
- Kaifie A, et al. J Hematol Oncol 2016;9:18.
- Polycythemia vera: the natural history of 1213 patients followed for 20 years. Gruppo Italiano Studio Policitemia. Ann Intern Med 1995;123(9):656-664.
- Barbui T, et al. Leukemia 2018; 32(5), 1057-1069.
- Verstovsek S, et al. Ann Hematol. 2023 Mar, 102(3):571-581
- Mesa R, et al. BMC Cancer. 2016;16,167.
- Ginzburg et al. Leukemia 2018;32:2105-2116.