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Polycythaemia vera

Polycythaemia vera · Pravá polycytémie (polycythaemia vera)

What it is

The marrow makes too many cells — usually a JAK2 mutation. The blood thickens and clots.

Symptoms & signs

  • Headache
  • itching after a hot bath
  • ruddy face
  • dizziness
  • enlarged spleen
  • clots or stroke as the first sign

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech
  • call 112 / 911 now Chest pain or sudden breathlessness
  • call 112 / 911 now Painful swollen leg or sudden severe belly pain
  • see a doctor soon Burning red fingers or toes, or itching after a bath

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Venesection to a haematocrit under 45%
  • low-dose aspirin
  • hydroxycarbamide
  • ruxolitinib
  • interferon in younger patients
  • ropeginterferon alfa-2b — approved (EMA 2019, FDA 2021)

Natural & lifestyle

  • Hydration
  • stop smoking
  • cardiovascular risk control
  • report new headaches or visual symptoms

Emerging & experimental

  • Rusfertide (hepcidin mimetic)

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Curcumin — laboratory activity against JAK2 cells early / small studies
  • Drinking more water — does not thin the blood enough; venesection does anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes