MEDICINE Study Guide - Final Guide: Polycythemia Vera, Red Blood Cell, Acute Panmyelosis With Myelofibrosis

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Polycythemia vera (pv) is a chronic stem cell disorder with an insidious onset characterized as a panhyperplastic, malignant, and neoplastic marrow disorder. The most prominent feature is an absolute increase in the number of circulating red blood cells and in the total blood volume because of uncontrolled red blood cell production. This is accompanied by increased white blood cell (myeloid) and platelet (megakaryocytic) production, which is due to an abnormal clone of the hematopoietic stem cells with increased sensitivity to the different growth factors for maturation. Etiology of this panmyelosis is unregulated neoplastic proliferation. The cause of the stem cell transformation remains unknown. Polycythemia vera often manifests itself primarily by headache or dizziness, weakness and lassitude, tinnitus, visual disturbances, mental confusion, slurring of the speech and inability to concentrate. The skin of the trunk is seldom involved. Splenomegaly is one of the most constant features of polycythemia vera, and the spleen is sometimes painful.

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