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 4
30s 20
40s 28
50s 60
60s 83
70+ 104

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 99
Female 199

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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.



Common symptoms reported by people with polycythemia vera

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

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.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for polycythemia vera

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Hydrea)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
96
Tried for
polycythemia vera (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Aspirin Low Dose)
Type
Over the Counter Drug
How many have tried
141
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.
Last updated:


Compare treatments taken by people with polycythemia vera

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

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

(Aspirin Low Dose)
Perceived effectiveness
for polycythemia vera (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
polycythemia vera (1)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

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



Who has polycythemia vera on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 2 new patients joined this month
  • 242 say polycythemia vera is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 0
20s 4
30s 20
40s 28
50s 60
60s 83
70+ 104
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 5
20-29 years 9
30-39 years 13
40-49 years 21
50-59 years 27
60-69 years 11
70+ years 4

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 99
Female 199

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 113
Not Diagnosed 6

These charts show data from polycythemia vera patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: