Hyperlipemia and myocardial infarction in polycythemia vera

Hyperlipemia was found in 46 of 118 polycythemia vera patients and in 20 of a control group of 115 healthy subjects. Myocardial infarction in the polycythemia vera group occurred in 14 of the 46 hyperlipemic and in 17 of the remaining 72 nonhyperlipemic patients. Repeated phlebotomies may induce hyperlipemia; therefore, this form of treatment may be potentially dangerous in polycythemia vera patients who are already hyperlipemic.