Master Polycythemia Vera Labs with Picmonic for Medicine

Patients with polycythemia vera have a mutation leading to increased RBC generation. This can cause hypervolemia due to increased blood volume, resulting from the large increase in blood product being formed (RBCs).

Patients with polycythemia vera display histaminemia due to release from mast cells. This is the proposed mechanism for intense pruritis experienced by patients with this disorder.

Hematocrit is a large determinant in blood viscosity. Patients develop circulating hyperviscosity, due to the large number of red blood cells being generated (thus, raising hematocrit). Complications of hyperviscosity include reduced blood flow, capillary perfusion and possibly increased congestion in organs.

Patients with PCV display hyperuricemia. Uric acid is high as a result of increased but ineffective hematopoiesis (destruction taking place in the marrow).

Patients can be diagnosed with polycythemia vera with a complete blood count, where the hemoglobin or hematocrit levels would be greatly increased.

Patients could also be diagnosed with PCV if they displayed symptoms of the disorder and were found to have a JAK2 tyrosine kinase mutation in blood cells.