Familial polycythaemia vera: a study of 3 sisters

The familial occurrence of polycythaemia vera (PV) is rare, with only 3 authentic reports in the world literature. This paper describes a family of 8 females, 3 of whom have PV and another has pernicious anaemia. Clinical and haematological data is presented to support the diagnosis of PV and exclude other causes of familial erythrocytosis. Cytogenetic studies were performed in 2 of the patients.