What is your suggestion for polycythemia?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 37-year-old male. I have been suffering from polycythemia for the last two years. My Hb is 19.17, and my HCT is 51.9. The doctors informed me that it is all due to smoking. Please answer a few of my questions:

Is there any serious problem with me?
What will you suggest?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Chronic smoking can lead to heart failure and chronic lung disease, and hence, polycythemia occurs. It is called secondary polycythemia. With the treatment, the prognosis is good in secondary polycythemia. But polycythemia can also present as primary polycythemia, and in that case, the prognosis is poor, as it is considered a myeloproliferative neoplasm.

Primary polycythemia is called polycythemia vera, and for that, a JAK2 (janus kinase 2) mutation study was done by a molecular method to confirm it. For polycythemia, the treatment is therapeutic phlebotomy, in which 8.33 to 13.33 oz of blood is removed as needed. Our aim is to maintain an HCT hematocrit of less than 45 percent in male patients with polycythemia.

Initially, phlebotomy can be somewhat aggressive with more frequency and then maintained with less frequency. The Hydroxyurea drug has proven effective in polycythemia.

Consult a nearby physician for examination, keeping all this in mind, and stop smoking as soon as possible.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reach out in case of further queries.

Thank you.