Interferon alpha is another drug, and is often prescribed to younger patients or women who are pregnant. Treatment typically begins by taking aspirin along with phlebotomy, a procedure similar to a regular blood donation in which excess blood is removed and discarded from your body. Polycythemia Vera: Doctor Discussion Guide. Doctors must adjust the treatment for each patient. Polycythemia vera treatment. © 2005-2021 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. This will likely include phlebotomy and medications. Ask for more information before starting treatment. After your red blood cell level drops, you'll take one of these prescription drugs to slow the production of new red blood cells in your bone marrow. Treatment focuses on decreasing the blood cell count and alleviating the symptoms. Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells compared with the total amount of blood. A search for the cause of this mutation continues, and once it’s found, you may see even more advances in treatment options. As a JAK2 inhibitor, it stops action of the JAK2 mutation. Polycythemia vera is a rare blood disease in which the body makes too many red blood cells, making the blood thicker than normal and causing blood clots. Affected people may also have excess white blood cells and platelets.Conditions where the body makes too many of these cells are known as myeloproliferative neoplasms. Medicine to lower blood cells. Treatment may include a phlebotomy.In this treatment, some of your blood is removed to help keep the number of red blood cells down and lower the risk of blood clots. Interferon-alfa (Intron A) works on your immune system. Polycythemia vera is a condition characterized by an increased number of red blood cells in the bloodstream (erythrocytosis). Polycythemia vera is a chronic condition that can't be cured. - What Are the Treatments for Polycythemia Vera? Treatment for polycythaemia aims to prevent symptoms and complications (such as blood clots), and treat any underlying causes. This procedure removes blood from your body. Some possible side effects from interferon-alfa are: A long-acting version, called peginterferon alfa (Pegasys), has fewer side effects. This includes rejection of the stem cells by your body and damage to your organs. However, complications from a bone marrow transplant can be serious. Symptoms and Signs of Chronic Bronchitis ", National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: "How is Polycythemia Vera Treated?". The more oxygen you get, the fewer symptoms you’re likely to experience. These medicines help certain types of blood cells work better, so your blood flow improves and is less thick. The discovery of the JAK2 gene and its mutation was a huge step forward in the understanding of PV. Polycythemia Vera treatment focuses on lowering the blood count of the patient. If attained, please do make use of it. It will prompt your body to lower your blood cell counts. Your doctor will keep a close eye on your health to see whether the condition deteriorates. No matter what course of treatment you and your hematologist decide is best, know that PV can be controlled and managed effectively. When you’re properly treated, you’ll be able to live a productive life with PV for many years. It can cause side effects, such as: It’s very unlikely, but it may cause cells to turn cancerous. © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. Sometimes blood clots lead to a heart attack or stroke. Read about why you shouldn’t delay treating your PV and what options are available to you. This is because the stem cells, where the disease originates, will be replaced. Polycythemia Vera Diagnosis And Treatment. The goal is to lower your hematocrit level. After your diagnosis, your doctor and hematologist will provide you with a better…, Polycythemia vera (PC) may not be discovered until you visit your doctor for another reason. With the right treatment, you can stay healthy -- and feel better. If you have polycythemia vera, talk to your primary care doctor or hematologist about the right treatment plan for you. Treatment choices depend on your diagnosis and the extent of the disease. This treatment slows red blood cell production in bone marrow, which thins your blood and helps it flow more easily. Hydroxyurea is a prescription drug and will likely be the first course of action after initial treatment. ", FDA: "Aspirin for Reducing Your Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke: Know the Facts. Your doctor might recommend that you take a low dose of aspirin every day. What are the treatments for polycythemia vera (PV)? Echinacea is an herb plant useful for Natural Treatment for Polycythemia Vera and it helps strengthen your immune system and stimulate your lymphatic system. This article presents a case of dental treatment in a patient with polycythemia vera. You need these cells to carry oxygen around your body, but too … Regular phlebotomy can help reduce your body’s red blood cell volume and help stabilize your blood counts. Herbal Treatment for Polycythemia Vera is considered a viable option for many. Your options may include: There’s no cure, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get treatment or don’t have options. If your PV doesn’t respond well to an aspirin and phlebotomy regimen, your next option is prescription drugs. You'll get this treatment once a week or month until your hematocrit goes down to around 45%. Make sure to discuss having a bone marrow transplant thoroughly with your hematologist beforehand. If your concerns start to worry you or get you down, talk to your doctor, a therapist or counselor, or a support group. After a successful bone marrow transplant, you will no longer have symptoms of PV. ", Johns Hopkins Medicine: "Polycythemia Vera. In PV, it lowers the number of red blood cells and platelets, which are cells that help blood clot. This will help reduce the thickness of your blood, allowing you to get more oxygen. The various drugs used to treat polycythemia vera work in different ways, and may have different side effects. In therapeutic phlebotomy, blood is removed from the body similar to a blood donation to … A daily, low-dose aspirin can help reduce your chance of blood clots. If you have polycythemia vera, talk to your doctor about treatment options. ", MPN Research Foundation: "What is Polycythemia Vera? Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. All rights reserved. Polycythemia Vera is a chronic condition that can’t be cured. Yet doctors don't use radiation therapy very often for PV because it also can make blood cancer (leukemia) more likely. Daily aspirin use has some risks. About 95 percent of those with PV have the JAK2 gene mutation, which causes the uncontrolled reproduction of cells and the thickening of the blood. It targets quickly dividing red blood cells to slow their production. One of the last or final treatment options is a bone marrow transplant. For instance, Alfalfa, aloe vera, burdock root, echinacea, flax, ginseng and garlic can be used to treat the underlying causes behind the Polycythemia Vera. Treatment of polycythemia vera may include the following: Phlebotomy. In addition to your medical plan, use these self-care tips to help you feel better: It’s normal to have a mix of emotions when you have a serious condition. However, the circumstances are different for every PV patient and asymptomatic patients may not require treatment for extended periods of time. Chemotherapy with or without phlebotomy. It removes some of your blood to get rid of extra red blood cells. In polycythemia vera, this has resulted in a significant clinical, hematologic, morphologic and molecular response manifested by reduction in the JAK2(V617F) allele burden, sustained even after discontinuation of recombinant IFN. It's a lot like donating blood. Learn more about causes, risk factors, screening and prevention, signs and symptoms, complications, diagnoses, treatments, and … In many cases, treatment can reduce the risk of complications from polycythemia vera and ease signs and symptoms.Treatment might include: 1. However, even if you are diagnosed with the disease, treatment may not start unless symptoms appear. Another goal of treatment is to reduce complications and side effects. Polycythemia Vera: Prognosis and Life Expectancy, Complications and Risks of Polycythemia Vera. Treating Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Your Options, Flu-like symptoms -- fever, chills, and muscle aches. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts, Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter. Polycythemia vera is an uncommon myeloproliferative disease that can have hematologic and surgical implications. Most people with polycythemia vera take low-dose aspirin. Talk to your doctor about these and other risks before you start to take aspirin regularly. Abnormally increased red cell production in the bone marrow causes polycythemia vera. If the patient is not having lot of symptoms, then he/she may only be observed on a regular basis without any treatment being done. Once your red blood cell level has dropped, you’ll get phlebotomy less often. You may also think about having a transplant if you experience serious bone marrow scarring and are no longer producing healthy, functioning blood cells. Hydroxyurea can also prevent or treat an enlarged spleen -- a complication of PV. 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