Assessment of Effects of Phlebotomy in Patients with Polycythemia Vera and Secondary Polycythemia.
- Author:
Jung Hee KONG
1
;
Se Na LEE
;
Hyeon Seok EOM
;
Hyewon LEE
;
Ji Youn HAN
;
Heon YOO
;
Hyo Eun SHIM
;
Sun Young KONG
Author Information
1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Center for Diagnosic Oncology, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea. ksy@ncc.re.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Polycythemia;
Phlebotomy;
Hematocrit
- MeSH:
Blood Volume;
Female;
Hematocrit;
Humans;
Korea;
Male;
Phlebotomy*;
Polycythemia Vera*;
Polycythemia*;
Retrospective Studies;
Thrombosis
- From:Korean Journal of Blood Transfusion
2013;24(3):265-274
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm that can cause complications such as thrombosis and organ damage. To prevent complications of PV, therapy for maintenance of a hematocrit target of less than 45% has been recommended and phlebotomy is a simple therapy. However, the effects of phlebotomy have not been well evaluated in Korea. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of phlebotomy performed in patients with PV and secondary polycythemia. METHODS: The clinical data and phlebotomy records of 15 patients diagnosed with PV and secondary polycythemia from May 2005 to March 2013 at the National Cancer Center were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Patients included 10 males and five females. The median age of patients was 63 years (range, 50~72 years). There were six PV patients (40%) and nine secondary polycythemia patients (60%). The mean number of phlebotomy attempts per patient was 6 (range, 1~22), with an interval between phlebotomy attempts of 16 weeks (range, 1~96 weeks). The mean phlebotomy volume was 458 mL, which was 10.3% of the total blood volume. After phlebotomy, the mean hematocrit showed a decline, from 50.4 (+/-4.35)% to 46.5 (+/-4.85)%, and symptoms improved. After phlebotomies, 10 patients achieved a hematocrit of less than 45% and this hematocrit level was obtained after an average of six phlebotomies. CONCLUSION: Phlebotomy is an effective treatment modality for lowering the hematocrit value in patients with PV and secondary polycythemia. However, target hematocrit was not achieved after a single phlebotomy. Therefore, adjustment of visit intervals and changes in phlebotomy volume were needed.