Salem H H, Van der Weyden M B, Young I F, Wiley J S
Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1982 Jul 10;285(6335):91-2. doi: 10.1136/bmj.285.6335.91.
Six patients diagnosed as having polycythaemia vera had severe pruritus that persisted despite adequate haematological control. Iron supplementation was given when iron deficiency was noted in all six patients. The pruritus began to improve two to 10 days after the start of treatment and had completely disappeared after two to three weeks. In three patients the iron treatment was stopped because of unacceptably high haemoglobin concentrations; the pruritus recurred. Since chronic iron treatment may result in increases in red cell mass indiscriminate use of iron in patients with polycythaemia vera and pruritus is not advocated. Nevertheless, in patients with severe symptoms and evidence of iron deficiency treatment with iron, continuing for two to three weeks after the symptoms have abated, may be beneficial.
六名被诊断为真性红细胞增多症的患者出现了严重瘙痒，尽管血液学指标得到了充分控制，但瘙痒仍持续存在。当发现所有六名患者都有缺铁情况时，给予了铁剂补充。瘙痒在治疗开始后的两到十天开始改善，并在两到三周后完全消失。三名患者因血红蛋白浓度过高而停止了铁剂治疗；瘙痒复发。由于长期铁剂治疗可能导致红细胞量增加，因此不提倡在真性红细胞增多症和瘙痒患者中随意使用铁剂。然而，对于有严重症状且有缺铁证据的患者，在症状减轻后继续进行两到三周的铁剂治疗可能是有益的。
