Cause 9: Blood Disorders – The Stepping Stones
The path to Polycythemia Vera (PV) sometimes meanders through the terrain of other blood disorders. Certain pre-existing blood conditions can set the stage for PV, acting as stepping stones toward this particular blood disorder. Let’s explore these conditions and understand their connection to PV.
A group of blood disorders known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) often share the spotlight with PV. These conditions, including Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) and Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF), are known to mutate into PV over time in some cases.
ET, characterized by an overproduction of platelets, often shows a close association with PV. Some patients initially diagnosed with ET eventually develop PV, owing to the presence of the JAK2 mutation, a common denominator in both conditions.
PMF, on the other hand, is a condition where the bone marrow is replaced with fibrous tissue, hampering the production of blood cells. However, in the early stages of PMF, a condition called prefibrotic PMF, the bone marrow might overproduce red blood cells, mimicking PV.
Another condition worth mentioning is Secondary Polycythemia. While it’s a separate entity from PV, patients suffering from Secondary Polycythemia often exhibit similar symptoms, such as increased red blood cells. This condition usually occurs as a response to low oxygen levels in the body due to lung diseases or heart diseases. (9)
