In two articles for Patient Power, Olga Pozdnyakova, MD, PhD, FCAP, director of the Division of Hematopathology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and chair of the College of American Pathologists’ Hematology and Clinical Microscopy Committee, discusses key aspects of diagnosing and managing polycythemia vera (PV).
Understanding your biopsy report: Dr. Pozdnyakova explains that a bone marrow biopsy is the second major criterion for diagnosing PV. Because biopsy reports can contain complex medical terminology, she recommends looking for four key findings in the report.
Understanding the JAK2 gene: Nearly everyone with PV has a change in the JAK2 gene. Dr. Pozdnyakova notes that the JAK2 V617F variant is present in about 95% to 97% of people with PV. She explains how doctors can test for the variant using a blood sample and what testing may be recommended if the result is negative.
Read the full articles: