Polycythemia vera

Alternative names:

hyperglobulinemia; myeloproliferative disorders; polycythemia rubra vera; primary polycythemia; Waldenstrom's disease

Symptoms:

• headache
• dizziness
• itchiness, especially following a warm bath
• fullness in the left upper abdomen
• red coloration, especially of the face
• shortness of breath
• breathing difficulty, lying down
• symptoms of phlebitis

Note: Symptoms are due to increased blood viscosity and clotting.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• vision abnormalities
• skin spots, red
• skin discoloration, bluish
• fatigue

Signs and tests:

• a CBC with differential
• hematocrit, elevated
• white blood count, elevated
• platelet count, elevated
• bone marrow biopsy
• vitamin B-12 level
• chemistry panel
• blood volume, increased

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• uric acid, urine
• uric acid
• TIBC
• RBC count
• platelet aggregation test
• leukocyte alkaline phosphatase
• hemoglobin
• ESR
• erythropoietin