What is polycythemia vera?

Polycythemia vera is an abnormal increase in the number of blood cells (primarily red blood cells) produced by the bone marrow.

How do members experience polycythemia vera?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with polycythemia vera*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for polycythemia vera*

*Data from patients with polycythemia vera, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with polycythemia vera*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Hydrea)
Perceived effectiveness
for polycythemia vera (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
polycythemia vera (2)
Treatment

(Aspirin Low Dose)
Perceived effectiveness
for polycythemia vera (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
polycythemia vera (1)

*Data from patients with polycythemia vera, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has polycythemia vera on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 0
20s 3
30s 20
40s 30
50s 56
60s 82
70+ 94

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 97
Female 187