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Polycythemia Vera

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Polycythemia Vera is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Erythremia
Osler-Vaquez Disease
Primary Polycythemia
Splenomegalic Polycythemia
Vaquez-Osler Disease
Polycythemia Rubra Vera

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

Polycythemia vera is a rare, chronic disorder involving an overproduction of blood cells in the bone marrow (myeloproliferative). The overproduction of red blood cells is most dramatic, but production of white blood cells and platelets is also elevated in most cases. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body. White blood cells fight infection. Platelets are involved in clotting of the blood.

In most cases, affected individuals may experience headaches, weakness, dizziness (vertigo), and/or a ringing noise in the ear (tinnitus). In some cases, individuals with polycythemia vera experience itching (pruritis), especially after a hot bath. Affected individuals often have an abnormally enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) and/or liver (hepatomegaly). In some cases, affected individuals may have associated conditions including high blood pressure (hypertension), the formation of blood clots (thrombosis), rupturing of and loss of blood (hemorrhaging) from certain blood vessels, and/or Budd-Chiari syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by obstruction (occlusion) of veins of the liver (hepatic veins). The exact cause of polycythemia vera is not known.

Resources

NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
31 Center Drive MSC 2480
Building 31A Rm 4A16
Bethesda, MD 20892-2480
Tel: (301)592-8573
Fax: (240)629-3246
Email: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/

Myeloproliferative Mailing List (MPD-SUPPORT-L)
3706 North Roosevelt Blvd.
Key West, FL 44030
USA
Tel: 3052954444
Fax: 3052953335
Email: lov2laf@bellsouth.net
Internet: http://www.members.aol.com/mpdsupport

Sjældne Diagnoser / Rare Disorders Denmark
Frederiksholms Kanal 2, 3rd Floor
Copenhagen K, 1220
Denmark
Tel: 45 33 14 00 10
Fax: 45 33 14 55 09
Email: mail@sjaeldnediagnoser
Internet: http://www.raredisorders.dk

CMPD Education Foundation
PO Box 4758
Scottsdale, AZ 85261
Tel: (480)443-1975
Fax: (480)443-1154
Email: jniblack@mpdinfo.org
Internet: http://www.mpdinfo.org

For a Complete Report:

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 3/11/2008
Copyright 1986, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2005 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

WebMD Medical Reference from the National Organization of Rare Disorders

Last Updated: March 11, 2008

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.