Observation and treatment of polycythemia vera. Role of the specialist and of the practitioner.

The respective roles of general practitioners and of consultants, for the care of patients treated for polycythemia vera, deserve to be defined in order to improve the detection of late therapeutic complications. The involvement of the general practitioner in the care of patients can only reinforce his knowledge of a rare disease and his interest in its detection. Three factors can influence the methods of supervision and the respective roles of specialists and general practitioners: the easy access to the reference centre, the evolution of policy of medical Insurance Authorities refunding travelling expenses, the quality of contacts between the specialist and the practitioner in charge.