Your body makes too many red blood cells – that’s the challenge. But with the right treatment plan, you can manage it, prevent complications, and live a full life.

HISTORY / ORIGIN

Polycythemia vera (PV) was first described as a distinct disease in 1892 by Vaquez, and later recognized as "a new clinical entity" by the famous physician William Osler in 1903. Early treatments were experimental and sometimes risky. In 1918, doctors first used phenylhydrazine to lower red blood cell counts, but it often caused jaundice and other side effects. By the 1940s, radioactive phosphorus (³²P) became a treatment option – until researchers discovered it could lead to acute leukemia. The Polycythemia Vera Study Group, formed in 1967, helped establish more reliable diagnostic criteria and safer treatment approaches. Today, treatment has evolved dramatically, with targeted therapies that work smarter, not harder.

TYPES / CLASSIFICATION OF POLYCYTHEMIA VERA

PV is classified…