[Polyglobulia vera. Difficulties and complications of treatment by phlebotomy]

The authors report the results of phlebotomy for polyglobulia vera in a series of 73 patients eligible for inclusion in an international co-operative study. Previous studies usually gave actuarial survival curves but failed to mention the complications and discomfort associated with phlebotomy, although these are of importance in clinical practice. Most of the 73 patients were excluded on account of discomfort (20%), vascular thrombosis (almost 50%) or transformation into myelofibrosis within a mean period of 4 years (20%). Only 10% were treated with long-term phlebotomy. Although phlebotomies avoid the long-term risk of leukaemia attached to radiophosphorus or chemotherapy (20% on average after a mean delay of 12 years), they have practical limitations and their own, important risks. In patients over 65 and in those at high vascular risk, the best treatment is myelosuppression. However, younger subjects with polyglobulia vera but no vascular risk and/or thrombocytosis may benefit, at least temporarily, from phlebotomy.