Polycythemia Vera

Prevalence: 22:100,000; twice as high among men as women.

Higher prevalence in Jewish people of European origin.

Prevalence increases with advancing age (rare in those <30 y).

Risk of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary emboli

Risk of coronary, cerebral thrombosis/ischemia

Increased histamine release and prostaglandin production

Hyperviscosity from increased Hct

Preop treatment should include phlebotomy to Hct of ≤45%

Increased plt count and plt aggregation

Thrombotic complications: MI, stroke, deep venous thrombosis, Budd-Chiari syndrome

Bleeding diathesis

A chronic myeloproliferative disease characterized by increased red blood cell mass.

Often WBC and plt counts are increased.

The resulting hyperviscosity of blood predisposes to thrombosis.

Symptoms: Headaches, erythromelalgia (pain in hands/feet), pruritus.

Predisposed to gouty arthritis, peptic ulcer disease.

Accompanied by palpable splenomegaly.