Polycythemia Vera

True polycythemia is a type of bone marrow abnormality. This disease, especially rare and more often experienced by men than women.

Polycythemia Vera
Under normal conditions, our body regulates and determines the number of blood cells to be produced as needed. If you have viral polycythemia, your JAK2 gene has a mutation, so that bone marrow cells produce red blood cells excessively.

The cause of the mutation is not known with certainty. However, the risk of viral polycythemia increases with age, especially in people over 60 years.
Symptoms of Polycythemia Vera

True polycythemia rarely causes significant symptoms, even if it has been experienced for years. If there are indications felt by the patient, the signs are generally in the form of:

  • Squares and tired.
  • Dizziness or headache.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Nosebleeds and bruises.
  • Excessive sweating.
  • Swollen joints and pain caused by gout or gout usually occur in the big toe. Gout is a type of joint inflammation.
  • Numbness, tingling, weakness or pain in the hands or feet.
  • Difficulty breathing, especially when lying down.
  • The skin becomes red, especially on the face.
  • The upper part of the abdomen is swollen by the swollen spleen.
  • Itching, especially after a hot shower.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience these symptoms, especially those that don't improve. Examination and treatment as soon as possible can prevent serious complications such as heart attacks, strokes, pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.
Diagnosis of Polycythemia Vera

Viral polycythaemia usually develops slowly and rarely causes significant indications. As a result, this disease tends to be detected when patients undergo the process of diagnosing other diseases.

This disease is usually detected by a blood test, especially when checking the number of red blood cells in the body. Most of the results of blood tests in people with polycythemia virus are:

  • An increase in the number of red blood cells is sometimes accompanied by an increase in the number of platelets and white blood cells.
  • Increase in the percentage of red blood cells in the blood (hematocrit).
  • Increased hemoglobin levels.
  • The erythropoietin hormone, a hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells by bone marrow cells.

To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may also recommend other tests, such as the JAK2 gene genetic test, also done through blood tests and bone marrow biopsy. Abdominal ultrasonography can also be done to determine whether you have spleen disorders or not.

Treatment of Polycythemia Vera

Polycythemia vera, including chronic diseases that can not be cured. The treatment carried out by the patient aims to reduce the number of blood cells, prevent complications and reduce the severity of symptoms.

There are several treatment methods that will generally be recommended by doctors. Treatment steps include:

  • Bleeding. This method is carried out with the same procedure as for blood donation and is the first step in treatment that is generally recommended by doctors.
  • Reduce production of red blood cells with drugs. Examples of drugs given are interferon and hydroxicarbamide.
  • Prevention of blood clots by administering drugs, such as low-dose aspirin.

In addition to controlling blood cell production, several other steps may be recommended to reduce the symptoms experienced by the patient. For example, drugs to relieve itching and gout.

In addition to treatment by a doctor, you can also take a few simple steps at home, including:

  • Put a healthy and balanced lifestyle, for example by following a healthy diet, having a healthy weight, diligently exercising and stopping.
  • Reduce itching with a cold shower.
  • Avoid wounds and infections by not scratching the skin that is too itchy

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