Optimizing Care in Polycythemia Vera (PV): Clinical Insights and Therapeutic Decision-Making

Panelists discuss how integrating molecular markers—particularly JAK2 V617F allele burden—and clinical features such as symptom burden and thrombotic history inform diagnosis, risk stratification, and monitoring strategies in polycythemia vera to anticipate disease progression and guide personalized treatment.

Panelists discuss how thrombotic risk assessment—anchored in age, thrombotic history, and additional factors like leukocytosis and JAK2 allele burden—guides personalized therapy in polycythemia vera (PV), balancing cytoreduction, symptom control, and prevention of vascular events.

Panelists discuss how the decision to initiate cytoreductive therapy in polycythemia vera (PV) is driven by high-risk features such as age over 60 and thrombotic history, as well as factors like inadequate hematocrit control, symptom burden, and intolerance to phlebotomy, with therapy tailored to individual patient needs and goals.

Panelists discuss how frequent phlebotomy requirements—typically more than 4 to 6 times per year—serve as a marker of inadequate disease control in polycythemia vera (PV), prompting consideration of cytoreductive therapy to improve hematologic stability, alleviate symptoms, and reduce thrombotic risk.

Panelists discuss how the choice between hydroxyurea (HU) and interferon (IFN) for cytoreductive therapy in polycythemia vera (PV) depends on factors such as patient age, long-term safety, tolerability, comorbidities, response to previous treatments, and patient preferences, with HU often preferred in older patients and IFN favored for younger patients, those intolerant to HU, or those seeking potential disease-modifying effects.

Panelists discuss how in polycythemia vera (PV), defining and managing treatment resistance or intolerance is crucial, requiring careful monitoring and timely intervention, including assessing adherence, evaluating mutations, and making therapeutic adjustments such as dose modifications, switching to alternative therapies like ruxolitinib or interferon, and employing a multidisciplinary approach to ensure optimal disease control and patient outcomes.

Panelists discuss how in polycythemia vera (PV), effective management involves a dual focus on thrombosis prevention with aspirin, phlebotomy, and cytoreductive therapy, alongside strategies for managing symptoms like fatigue, pruritus, and splenomegaly, while regular assessments of quality of life and psychosocial support are essential for enhancing patient well-being.

Panelists discuss how in polycythemia vera (PV), when standard cytoreductive therapies fail to control symptoms, targeted treatments such as ruxolitinib for pruritus and splenomegaly, iron supplementation for fatigue, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain, and psychosocial support play a crucial role in improving symptom management and enhancing patient quality of life.

Panelists discuss how clinical trial data has shaped second-line therapy in polycythemia vera (PV), highlighting ruxolitinib and interferon as key options for patients resistant or intolerant to hydroxyurea due to their efficacy in symptom control, quality of life improvement, and disease-modifying benefits, especially for those with splenomegaly or inadequate response to first-line treatments.

Panelists discuss how hepcidin mimetics like rusfertide offer a novel approach to managing polycythemia vera (PV) by regulating iron metabolism, reducing iron overload, and improving hematocrit control, particularly in patients with iron deficiency or refractory disease, while also potentially enhancing disease management and quality of life when used alone or in combination with standard therapies like hydroxyurea or ruxolitinib.

Panelists discuss how hepcidin mimetics like rusfertide complement existing therapies in polycythemia vera (PV) by regulating iron metabolism, reducing iron overload, and balancing erythropoiesis, which can enhance the effectiveness of cytoreductive treatments, alleviate symptoms like fatigue and splenomegaly, and improve quality of life, particularly in patients with refractory disease or those requiring frequent phlebotomy.

Panelists discuss how the future of polycythemia vera (PV) management will be shaped by advancements in targeted therapies, precision medicine, and symptom control, with innovations such as next-generation JAK inhibitors, hepcidin mimetics like rusfertide, gene therapies, and personalized treatment approaches offering more effective, tailored, and holistic management options that improve disease control and quality of life for patients.

Panelists discuss how differentiating primary from secondary erythrocytosis is crucial in guiding treatment strategies, emphasizing the importance of addressing underlying causes such as chronic hypoxia, tumors, or anabolic steroid use while managing hematologic parameters as necessary.