Treatment

How is it treated?

Without treatment around half of all people with symptomatic polycythaemia vera will die in less than two years. There is no cure, but treatment can extend the person's life span by thinning the blood, and reducing the risk of blood clots and other complications.

Weekly removal of one unit of blood until red blood cells make up less than 50% of the overall blood volume, and then controlled removal of blood as required. This procedure is called either a phlebotomy or venesection.

Drug therapy is used to suppress the activity of the bone marrow, such as frequent injections of interferon, tablets of Hydroxyurea, and injection of radioactive phosphorus (P-32), and to reduce the risk of blood clots, such as Aspirin or Warfarin.

Any symptoms should improve rapidly as the blood count comes under control. None of the treatments used produce significant side-effects.

The blood count will be checked frequently no matter what treatment is given.