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Polycythemia vera: plethora, from prehistory to present.
1Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902, USA.
Current Hematology Reports
|May 4, 2005
Summary
Polycythemia vera (PV) is a distinct clinical entity with a history tracing back to ancient observations of excess blood. Its formal description in the late 19th century distinguished it from other forms of polycythemia.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Medical History
Background:
- The concept of excess blood dates to antiquity, influencing early medical theories.
- The term polycythemia, meaning 'many blood cell disease,' emerged after the discovery of cells.
Observation:
- Ancient physicians observed plethoric patients, integrating these observations into humoral theory.
- The 19th century marked a 'golden era' for disease description and classification.
Findings:
- Polycythemia rubra vera (PRV) was first described as an idiopathic condition in the late 19th century.
- PRV was differentiated from secondary polycythemia (bone marrow disorder) and relative polycythemia (plasma volume contraction).
Implications:
- Understanding the historical context of polycythemia vera is crucial for its modern clinical management.
- This review highlights key historical milestones in defining polycythemia vera as a unique disease entity.