Ask the Experts: Polycythemia vera

Sanjay Juneja, MD discusses what symptoms to look out for when it comes to polycythemia vera, a rare blood disorder.

Transcript

00:00

Hi, doctor. What are the symptoms of polycythemia vera? Is there anything we should be on the lookout for?

00:06

[MUSIC PLAYING] Thank you so much for this question. Let's start with a bit of background.

00:13

What is polycythemia vera anyway? Polycythemia vera, otherwise known as PV, is a rare disorder of the blood.

00:20

With PV, your bone marrow makes too much blood, specifically the red blood cells. This makes your blood thicker than it should be,

00:28

which makes it move more slowly through your blood vessels and in your body. This puts you at risk for potentially serious issues,

00:34

like blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. PV can also progress to other serious conditions, so getting treatment is key.

00:42

Now, one of the trickier parts with PV is folks that have it may not necessarily be aware. Its symptoms can be vague, especially in the early phase.

00:49

You might have nonspecific symptoms, like fatigue, headaches, possible dizziness. You may also sweat a lot at night and possibly experience

00:57

shortness of breath, especially when you lay down. Your skin might get itchy, especially after a hot bath or a shower, and you may start experiencing

01:04

nosebleeds or bleeding gums when that's not usual for you. PV can also cause your spleen to enlarge.

01:10

As a result, you may feel very full after eating or a bloating or kind of painful sensation in your upper left abdomen, which

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is where the spleen is located. If left untreated, PV can be life-threatening. So it's important that you talk to your health care provider

01:24

if you notice any symptoms. Generally, PV is broken into three stages. In the early stages, you may not experience symptoms whatsoever.

01:32

But as PV advances, symptoms may become more noticeable and uncomfortable. And secondary conditions may start to develop.

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The last phase of PV is called the spent phase. In the spent phase, scar tissue actually starts to replace your bone marrow

01:46

where blood cells are made. This results in a PV patient being unable to make the healthy blood cells they need.

01:53

If PV progresses to the spent phase, it can actually lead to serious conditions, like acute myeloid leukemia. But this is usually pretty rare.

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The good news is treatment for PV exists, which may help reduce your symptoms and your risk for complications.

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Getting diagnosed and working with a health care provider to manage PV and its symptoms can help you live an otherwise long and healthy life.

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Talk with your health care provider to learn more. [MUSIC PLAYING]