[Clinical analysis of 185 patients with polycythemia vera].

OBJECTIVE

To understand the clinical feature and natural course of polycythemia vera (PV).

METHODS

The clinical symptoms, signs, laboratory examination and prognosis of 185 patients with PV were analysed.

RESULTS

There are 122 males and 63 females. The mean age was (52.7 +/- 14.1) years. The mean hemoglobin level was (208.3 +/- 21.2) g/L. Pancytosis was displayed in 74 (40%) cases, excess of red blood cells in 33 (17.8%), excess of red blood cells and granulocytes in 67 (36.2%) and excess of red blood cell and platelets in 11 (5.9%). Splenomegaly was found in 123 (66.5%) patients and hepatomegaly in 30 (16.2%). Quantitative assess of serum Epo was done in 25 patients. The level was low in 16 (64.2%) and normal in 9 (36.0%). Hematopoietic progenitor culture yields was elevated in 11 patients, endogenous erythroid colonies (EEC) formation was found in 10 cases (90.9%). Eighty two patients (44.3%) had 101 attacks of vascular thrombotic incidents, 7 patients developed myelofibrosis (MF). Secondary cancer occurred in 1 patient. Two patients died of thrombosis.

CONCLUSION

PV is an elderly adult myeloproliferative disease with a high frequency of thrombosis. EEC can be found out in PV patients. The serum Epo level is not increased in PV patients. The main sequelae of PV is MF.