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Thrombotic burden and longitudinal outcomes in Thai patients with polycythemia vera.

Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

Annals of medicineHantrakun Nonthakorn, Tantiworawit Adisak, Norasetthada Lalita, et al.Published 12/1/2026Last synced 6/10/2026Status: syncedPMID: 42262970DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2026.2682982

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm frequently complicated by thromboembolic events. However, data regarding thrombotic burden and long-term outcomes among Asian patients remain limited. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary referral center to evaluate thromboembolic events, treatment-related complications, disease progression, and overall survival in patients with PV. A total of 133 patients were included, with a median age of 61 years (range 18-88). Most patients were male (60.2%). Fifty-one patients (38.3%) experienced at least one thromboembolic event, with 54 events in total, of which 87% occurred before or at PV diagnosis. Arterial thrombosis accounted for 90.7% of all events. Age ≥60 years was significantly associated with thromboembolic events, with an odds ratio of 2.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-5.11). After a median follow-up of 7.7 years, the 5-year overall survival was 82.7% (95% CI, 74.61-88.35). Prior thrombosis was associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.15-3.42). Hydroxyurea resistance or intolerance occurred in 9.8% of patients. Bleeding complications were observed in 6.8%, including major bleeding in 4.5%. Fibrotic transformation, leukemic transformation, and secondary solid malignancies occurred in 4.5%, 3.8%, and 6.0% of patients, respectively. Thromboembolic events were common and predominantly arterial in this Asian PV cohort, occurring mainly be

Abstract

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm frequently complicated by thromboembolic events. However, data regarding thrombotic burden and long-term outcomes among Asian patients remain limited. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary referral center to evaluate thromboembolic events, treatment-related complications, disease progression, and overall survival in patients with PV. A total of 133 patients were included, with a median age of 61 years (range 18-88). Most patients were male (60.2%). Fifty-one patients (38.3%) experienced at least one thromboembolic event, with 54 events in total, of which 87% occurred before or at PV diagnosis. Arterial thrombosis accounted for 90.7% of all events. Age ≥60 years was significantly associated with thromboembolic events, with an odds ratio of 2.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-5.11). After a median follow-up of 7.7 years, the 5-year overall survival was 82.7% (95% CI, 74.61-88.35). Prior thrombosis was associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.15-3.42). Hydroxyurea resistance or intolerance occurred in 9.8% of patients. Bleeding complications were observed in 6.8%, including major bleeding in 4.5%. Fibrotic transformation, leukemic transformation, and secondary solid malignancies occurred in 4.5%, 3.8%, and 6.0% of patients, respectively. Thromboembolic events were common and predominantly arterial in this Asian PV cohort, occurring mainly before or at diagnosis. Prior thrombosis was associated with inferior survival. Long-term follow-up also revealed disease progression and secondary solid malignancies, underscoring the importance of continued surveillance.

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