Polycythemia vera: gender-related phenotypic differences.
Summary of "Polycythemia vera: gender-related phenotypic differences."
In polycythemia vera, gender has recently been shown to influence the JAK2(V617F) allele burden, but its effect on the disease phenotype is unknown. This issue was investigated using the database of the European Collaboration on Low-dose Aspirin in Polycythemia Vera (ECLAP) Study. The ECLAP Study recruited 1,638 polycythemic subjects and followed for 2.7 ± 1.3 years. At study entry, men, compared to women, had a higher prevalence of myocardial infarction (11.3 vs. 5.8%; P < 0.0001) and peripheral arterial disease (6.1 vs. 2.9%; P < 0.05) while a history of venous thrombosis was more common in women (11.4 vs. 7.9%, P = 0.016). Among 234 venous thrombosis, there were 39 splanchnic vein thromboses (33 extra-hepatic portal vein thromboses and 6 Budd-Chiari syndromes). Most of these events occurred as an early disease presentation in young female subjects. Women, compared to men, had higher platelet counts (average value 430 ± 213 vs. 375 ± 201 × 10(9)/L; P < 0.0001) and lower hematocrits (0.46 ± 0.06 vs. 0.48 ± 0.06 l/l; P < 0.0001). Cholesterol plasma level, available in 995 subjects (61%), was lower in male patients (180.8 ± 43.1vs. 196 ± 46.6 mg/dl; P < 0.0001). During follow-up there were 205 major thromboses confirming an high incidence of myocardial infarction in men although not statistically significant (1.2 vs. 0.6 cases per 100 person-years; P > 0.05). These data show several gender-related differences both in the thrombotic diathesis and in the prevalence of vascular risk factors of PV patients.
Affiliation
Institute of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Haemostasis Research Center, Catholic University School of Medicine, Largo AgostinoGemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy, rlandolfi@rm.unicatt.it.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Internal and emergency medicine
ISSN: 1970-9366
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21660494
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11739-011-0634-3
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Phlebotomy
The techniques used to draw blood from a vein for diagnostic purposes or for treatment of certain blood disorders such as erythrocytosis, hemochromatosis, polycythemia vera, and porphyria cutanea tarda.
Genetic Variation
The phenotypic and genotypic differences among individuals in a population.
Sexual And Gender Disorders
Mental disorders related to sexual dysfunction, paraphilias, and gender identity disorders.
Polycythemia Vera
A myeloproliferative disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by abnormal proliferation of all hematopoietic bone marrow elements and an absolute increase in red cell mass and total blood volume, associated frequently with splenomegaly, leukocytosis, and thrombocythemia. Hematopoiesis is also reactive in extramedullary sites (liver and spleen). In time myelofibrosis occurs.
Gender Identity
A person's concept of self as being male and masculine or female and feminine, or ambivalent, based in part on physical characteristics, parental responses, and psychological and social pressures. It is the internal experience of gender role.
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