
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Polycythemia vera laboratory tests
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Laboratory findings associated with the diagnosis of polycythemia vera include erythrocytosis, leukocytosis, and thrombocytosis. The most sensitive test for polycythemia vera is JAK2 V617F mutation testing in the peripheral blood. A specific finding in patients with polycythemia vera is low erythropoietin level.
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory findings associated with polycythemia vera include:[1][2][3][4][5][6]
- Erythrocytosis
- Increased hemoglobin
- Thrombocytosis
- Leukocytosis
- Increased basophils and eosinophils
- The following blood levels may be elevated in blood chemistry (non specific):
- Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
- Creatinine
- Phosphate
- Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
- Aspartate transaminase (AST)
- Uric acid
- Peripheral blood mutational testing
- Bleeding and clotting factor
- Erythropoietin (EPO)
- It is usually low in polycythemia vera but can be normal in about 20% of patients.
- It is usually high in secondary polycythemia vera.
- Elevation of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets
References
References
- β Mazzotta S, Guerranti R, Gozzetti A, Bucalossi A, Bocchia M, Sammassimo S; et al. (2006). “Increased serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in Ph-negative chronic myeloproliferative diseases: a metabolic adaptation?”. Hematology. 11 (4): 239β44. doi:10.1080/10245330600774835. PMIDΒ 17178662.
- β Denman M, Szur L, Ansell BM (1966). “Hyperuricaemia in polycythaemia vera”. Ann Rheum Dis. 25 (4): 340β4. PMCΒ 2453349. PMIDΒ 5947579.
- β Murakami J, Shimizu Y (2013). “Hepatic manifestations in hematological disorders”. Int J Hepatol. 2013: 484903. doi:10.1155/2013/484903. PMCΒ 3626309. PMIDΒ 23606974.
- β Remacha AF, Montserrat I, Santamaria A, Oliver A, BarcelΓ³ MJ, Parellada M (1997). “Serum erythropoietin in the diagnosis of polycythemia vera. A follow-up study”. Haematologica. 82 (4): 406β10. PMIDΒ 9299851.
- β Stein BL, Oh ST, Berenzon D, Hobbs GS, Kremyanskaya M, Rampal RK, Abboud CN, Adler K, Heaney ML, Jabbour EJ, Komrokji RS, Moliterno AR, Ritchie EK, Rice L, Mascarenhas J, Hoffman R (November 2015). “Polycythemia Vera: An Appraisal of the Biology and Management 10 Years After the Discovery of JAK2 V617F”. J. Clin. Oncol. 33 (33): 3953β60. doi:10.1200/JCO.2015.61.6474. PMCΒ 4979103. PMIDΒ 26324368.
- β Arber DA, Orazi A, Hasserjian R, Thiele J, Borowitz MJ, Le Beau MM; et al. (2016). “The 2016 revision to the World Health Organization classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemia”. Blood. 127 (20): 2391β405. doi:10.1182/blood-2016-03-643544. PMIDΒ 27069254.
Editor-In-Chief:
C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohamad Alkateb, MBBCh [2]; Shyam Patel [3] Ifeoma Odukwe, M.D. [4]
