Iron deficiency and phlebotomy in patients with polycythemia vera

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm that is associated with an elevated risk of thrombosis. Treatment strategies are based on thrombosis risk classification. Phlebotomy is a commonly recommended treatment for all patients with PV, regardless of their risk classification, and reduces the incidence of thrombosis by lowering hematocrit levels. However, patients with PV frequently present with iron deficiency at diagnosis due to increased erythropoiesis, which repeated phlebotomy can exacerbate. This can produce symptoms that diminish quality of life, such as fatigue, lethargy, and impaired concentration. Recently, hepcidin mimetics have been developed to suppress iron utilization in erythropoiesis. Among them, rusfertide has been shown to control hematocrit levels without requiring phlebotomy. Further studies are needed to identify new treatment strategies for PV that also consider iron deficiency.