The potential role of hematocrit control on symptom burden among polycythemia vera patients: Insights from the CYTO-PV and MPN-SAF patient cohorts

Abstract

Current guidelines suggest that polycythemia vera (PV) patients maintain a strict hematocrit less than 45%. However, to date, little is known about the relationship between HCT control and PV- related symptom burden. In this study, PV patient data was analyzed from the CYTO PV trial (n = 224) and the MPN-SAF study cohort (n = 645). No significant differences in symptom burden were seen at the 6 and 12 month follow-up when evaluating prospective hematocrit control in the CYTO PV cohort. Patients in the MPN-SAF cohort with a worst item score of greater than 5/10 on the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Total Symptom Score had a significantly lower mean hematocrit (p = .0376). These findings suggest a relationship between traditional aggressive therapy for PV and increased symptom burden with prolonged therapy. Thus, symptom burden should be considered when contemplating the choice of therapy in the second-line setting for PV.

Keywords:

• Symptom burden
• polycythemia vera
• quality of life
• phlebotomy

Potential conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10428194.2016.1246733.