Side Effects Of Phlebotomy For Polycythemia

The goal in polycythemia vera is to keep the hematocrit below 45.

Side effects of phlebotomy for polycythemia.

This decreases your blood volume and reduces the number of excess blood cells. You may experience dizziness or low blood pressure afterward but others tolerate it without issues. Polycythemia vera pv causes your bone marrow to make too many red blood cells. The condition causes your blood to thicken.

And so the simplest way of doing that is with phlebotomy so that s usually the first method that we use in patients. You should drink plenty of water afterward. Polycythemia vera pv is a benign but chronic and progressive form of blood cancer. You need these cells to carry oxygen around your body but too many of them can make your blood thicken and form clots.

Over time this will help your health care team know how to best manage this long term diagnosis so that you can experience the best quality of life. Phlebotomy is currently regarded as the pillar of polycythemia vera treatment. Because it can increase your risk of stroke it s important to get treatment if necessary. The goal of phlebotomy is to lower your hematocrit level.

Phlebotomy to maintain hematocrit 45 is considered one of the cornerstones for the management of polycythemia vera pv. If you are coping with polycythemia vera pv it is important to keep track of your symptoms and how they affect your daily activities. Side effects of phlebotomy. This is why after blood donation the technician asks you to sit up slowly before standing.

Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells compared with the total amount of blood. Secondary polycythemia also called secondary erythrocytosis is the overproduction of red blood cells. This can lead to health problems that include blood clots an. It s the same procedure used for donating blood.

Adverse reactions which could occur soon after therapeutic phlebotomy are similar to those following any kind of blood donation. The big question is what are the side effects of phlebotomy for polycythemia. The most common treatment for polychythemia vera is having frequent blood withdrawals using a needle in a vein phlebotomy. Therapeutic phlebotomy side effects.