How can polycythemia be diagnosed?
How can polycythemia be diagnosed?
To diagnose PV, your doctor will perform a test called a complete blood count (CBC) to see if your number of red blood cells is higher than normal. Your doctor may also test your blood to look for amounts of a hormone called erythropoietin. Lower-than-normal levels of this hormone can be a sign of PV.
How can you tell if a person has polycythemia?
What are the symptoms of polycythemia vera?
- Lack of energy (fatigue) or weakness.
- Headache.
- Dizziness.
- Shortness of breath and trouble breathing while lying down.
- Vision problems, such as double vision, blurred vision, and blind spots.
- Inability to concentrate.
- Night sweats.
- Face and becomes red and warm (flushed)
What is the most common symptom in the early stage of polycythemia?
Characteristics of early stages For example, early symptoms may include: fatigue. weakness. dizziness.
At what age is polycythemia vera diagnosed?
The average age at which PV is diagnosed is 60 to 65 years. It is uncommon in individuals younger than 30 years. PV can usually be managed effectively for a long time. People with PV who receive treatment often have a normal or near-normal quality of life.
Can you have polycythemia vera and not know it?
Polycythemia vera is rare. It usually develops slowly, and you might have it for years without knowing. Often the condition is found during a blood test done for another reason.
Can you take vitamin B12 with polycythemia?
Don’t attempt vitamin B12 therapy without close supervision by your healthcare provider. High numbers of red blood cells (polycythemia vera): The treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency can unmask the symptoms of polycythemia vera.
How do you know if you have thick or thin blood?
An example of some of the blood tests used if your doctor thinks you may have thick blood include:
- Complete blood count: This test screens for the presence of red blood cells and platelets in the blood.
- Activated protein C resistance: This tests for the presence of factor V Leiden.
How long can u live with polycythemia?
According to an article in Blood Cancer Journal, the median survival time for people with PV is 14 years after diagnosis. The authors take this survival time from a study in which half of the participants were still alive 14 years after diagnosis. Younger people tend to live for longer with the disease.
Does polycythemia show up in blood work?
If you have polycythemia vera, blood tests might reveal: More red blood cells than normal and, sometimes, an increase in platelets or white blood cells. A greater percentage of red blood cells that make up total blood volume (hematocrit measurement)
How to diagnose polycythemia vera?
Blood tests
How is polycythemia vera diagnosed and treated?
If your doctor suspects you have polycythemia vera, he or she might recommend a bone marrow aspiration or biopsy to collect a sample of your bone marrow for study. A bone marrow biopsy involves taking a sample of solid bone marrow material. A bone marrow aspiration is usually done at the same time.
Does polycythemia vera lead to other health problems?
In rare cases, polycythemia vera can lead to other blood diseases, including a progressive disorder in which bone marrow is replaced with scar tissue, a condition in which stem cells don’t mature or function properly, or cancer of the blood and bone marrow (acute leukemia).
How do I treat polycythemia vera?
Drawing some blood out of your veins in a procedure called phlebotomy is usually the main treatment for people with polycythemia vera. This decreases your blood volume and reduces the number of excess blood cells. How often you need to have blood drawn depends on the severity of your condition.
