Polycythemia Vera (PV) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by excessive proliferation of erythrocytes, leukocytes and thrombocytes (Means, 1998; Broudy, 1996). Undiagnosed patients may present to their primary care providers with an elevated hematocrit. A thorough diagnostic work-up is essential in differentiating PV from secondary and relative polycythrnia. Treatment options for PV includes phlebotomy and myelosuppressive therapy. A good understanding of the diagnostic tests required to diagnose PV are necessary to appropriately refer patients to a hemotologist for treatment. With a thorough understanding of treatment options, primary care providers can counsel and supported their patients. This manuscript reviews the diagnostic tests required to accurately diagnose PV and reviews over 20 years of research evaluating treatment for PV.
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Title
Polycythemia Vera: Diagnostic Work-Up and Treatment Options
Creators
Joanne Tuthill Eddington
Awarding Institution
Washington State University
Academic Unit
Research Projects, College of Nursing
Theses and Dissertations
Master of Nursing (MN), Washington State University
Publisher
Washington State University; Spokane, Washington
Identifiers
99900590733901842
Copyright
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us; Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US)