Polycythemia Vera and the Nervous System

Abstract

A review of the various syndromes and lesions of the nervous system as caused by polycythemia is presented. The authors stress the need to consider polycythemia as the etiologic factor in many varied neuro-psychiatic disorders. The symptoms produced are regarded as being due either to vascular congestion as the result of venous stasis or to actual structural changes in the CNS due to hemorrhage or thrombosis. In the former case the syndrome is usually reversible; in the latter it is not. Many vague symptoms such as headache, lassitude, personality defects, etc., may occur and are misdiagnosed as being due to psychologic factors. About 3/4 of all cases of polycythemia show evidence of CNS involvement and 1/4 reveal objective neurologic findings.'' 5 cases are presented to illustrate typical syndromes.