Polycythemia Vera

What is it?

A condition that causes your bone marrow to produce too many red blood cells, and at times too many white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets, some regard it as a slow form of blood cancer

The extra blood cells make your blood thicker than normal and causes sluggish movement of blood around the body promoting more chance of blood clots.
Blood that is too thick cannot flow easily, so less oxygen is delivered to your body’s tissues.
This condition is also referred as Erythrocytosis.

Cause

Gene mutation (change) of the JAK2 gene- causing poor control of red blood cell production-(the stem cells can start producing blood cells even when they’ve not been ‘told’ to do so by the growth factor (A growth factor is a substance which sends signals to your stem cells, so they can produce the right number of blood cells to keep you healthy).
Polycythemia vera increases if you are male or older than 50 years
Apparent polycythaemia – (where your red cell count is normal, but you have a reduced amount of a fluid called plasma in your blood, making it thicker)
- Pheochromocytoma
- Overweight
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Medication
  - Diuretics
  - Androgen medication

Relative polycythaemia
- Dehydration

Absolute polycythaemia
- Primary polycythaemia- problem in the cells produced by the bone marrow that become red blood cells
- Secondary polycythaemia- too many red blood cells are produced as the result of an underlying condition i.e. Leukaemia
- Condition which produce too much erythropoietin in kidneys this include:
  - Respiratory disease
  - Kidney tumours
  - Narrowing of arteries to supply blood to the kidney in blood pressure conditions
  - Kidney failure
  - Kidney disease – this is because erythropoietin is produced when these organs do not receive enough oxygen.

Syndromes

Source: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/primary-myelofibrosis/

Source: Wikipedia

Source: Natural Health News

Source: JAPI

Source: Shutterstock

Source: adam

Source: howshealth.com

Source: Stepwards

Symptoms

Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
Blurred vision?
Whites of eye look inflamed, hot, red, and swollen/Bloodshot eyes?
Bleeding gums and/or cuts that don’t heal quickly?
Difficulty in concentrating?
Night sweats?
Red rashy skin – particularly in the face, hands and feet?
Chest pain or discomfort?
General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
Unexplained weight loss?
Shortness of breath, or trouble breathing when you lie down?
Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?
Diarrhoea?
Bulging veins?
Bruise easily /Unusual bruise-like purple rash on the skin on your face or mucus membranes?
Itching that may be intense especially after showering?
Any extreme sensitive skin or burning sensation?
Hot flushes and/or flushed face and/or warm skin and/or slight sweating, and/or dislike to heat?
Cold hands and feet which can be numb and painful?
High blood pressure?
Balance and dizziness?
Nose bleeds?
Ear ringing?
Pain and swelling in a joint, usually in a big toe (build up of uric acid)?
Bone pain?
Lump appear on left hand side of abdomen due to the spleen swelling?
Abdominal heaviness and/or swelling in abdomen and liver area?

Nail changes:

Nails thicken and curve around your fingertips (clubbing)?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

Stroke
Heart attack
Aneurysm
Bleeding in any orifice

This condition can lead to:

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Budd Chiari syndrome
Leukaemia
Blood vessel disorders
Multiple myeloma
- Rare type of blood cancer characterized by improper function and excessive production of plasma cells—a type of white blood cell—found in bone marrow.
- The immune system is impacted due to the inefficiency of the plasma cells to produce healthy antibodies, which fight infection.
- The overgrowth of plasma cells crowds other blood cells, reducing the number of healthy red and white blood cells which are involved in processes to give us energy and fight infection .
- Common symptoms include leukaemia symptoms and anaemia symptoms in particular bone pain, usually experienced in the lower back and ribs and if not treated it can lead to weak bones, destruction of bones as well as a build up of abnormal antibodies called ‘M’Proteins which damage the kidneys and kidney stones due to increase production of uric acid as well as blood disorders symptoms.
Myelofibrosis (agnogenic myeloid metaplasia)
Primary myelofibrosis
Essential thrombocythemia
Gaucher disease
Sitosterolemia
Systemic capillary leak syndrome (Medical Emergency)

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Polycythemia Vera in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

NHS
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