POLYCYTHEMIA VERA. II. COURSE AND THERAPY

Abstract

The course and treat - ment of 97 patients with polycythemia vera receiving radioactive P over a 10-year period are reported. Twenty eight died, 6 (21%) with chronic granulocytic leukemia and 2 (7%) with myelofibrosis. It did not appear that P32 administration increased the occurrence of leukemia. The median survival in the present series was 11 years from the onset of symptoms, and the median age at death was 65 years. Of 78 patients followed at regular intervals, 67 (86%) obtained successful remissions (defined as absence of symptoms and erythrocyte counts of below 6,000,000 for over 1 year). The remaining 11 (14%) derived some benefit. Leukocyte counts over 25,000, relatively long duration of the disease process before therapy, and particularly marked splenomegaly (over 10 cm below the costal margin) were of prognostic value in pre-dicting a poorer response to P32 therapy.