[A clinical and biological study of 33 cases of polycythemia vera]

The clinical, analytical, evolutive and therapeutic aspects of 33 cases of polycythemia vera which were diagnosed according to the Polycythemia Vera Study Group criteria, are described. Mean age was 65 years with a slight predominance of females (54.5%). Hemorrhagic manifestations were the most frequent (67%) with a great number of patients with digestive manifestations consisting of GI hemorrhage, abdominal pain, portal or suprahepatic veins thrombosis. Splenomegaly was the most frequently found sign upon examination (73%). The mean hemoglobin leukocyte, and platelet levels were 18 g/dl, 16,000 mm3 and 738,000 mm3 respectively. It is note worthy the value of the erythropoietin for the differential diagnosis of secondary erythrocytosis as well as the value of the bone marrow histologic study which should be included in the diagnostic criteria of the disease. The evolution of the process is favorably altered by bleedings and chemotherapeutic cytoreduction which are often performed simultaneously.