8. Phlebotomy
Phlebotomy lowers both the volume of blood and the number of excess red blood cells in the body. It is a procedure to withdraw blood from the body using a needle. This is a procedure that is done regularly until the levels of the red blood cells normalize.
Phlebotomy is similar to the procedure of donating blood. It is the most common treatment for polycythemia.
7. Anti-Itch Medications
Anti-itch medications can help control the itching that comes with polycythemia. Examples of these medications are antihistamines.
Interestingly, medications to treat depression can also help control the itching that comes with polycythemia. This was found in several clinical trials. These medications are called selective seroto9nin reuptake inhibitors or SSRs. Examples of these are paroxetine and fluoxetine.
6. Medications to Lower Red Blood Cell Level
The most common medication to help lower red blood level is hydroxyurea. This is an anti-cancer drug that inhibits the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. It also slows down the production of red blood cells in the body.
Hydroxyurea can also treat and prevent the enlargement of the spleen, which is one of the symptoms of polycythemia. It is an oral medication.
5. Heart Medications
Heart medications can also be prescribed to reduce exposure to risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure. These medications can protect the heart and blood vessels that are affected by the condition.
For example, anticoagulants, also known as blood thinners can reduce the formation of blood clots in the body. However, it’s best to seek medical attention before choosing a particular type of medication for the treatment of polycythemia.
4. Clinical Trials
Patients who participate in clinical trials get the opportunity to test out new and innovative treatments while also contributing to drug development.
Clinical trials are efficient and effective methods of learning whether a novel treatment is more successful than the current treatment. It can also determine if the new treatment has side effects that may be detrimental to the patient.
3. Radiation Treatment
Radiation suppresses the hyperactive cells in the bone marrow. As a result of these treatments, red blood cell count will decrease causing the consistency and flow of blood to normalize or to remain closer to normal levels.
Despite the slim chance of radiation spreading to other parts of the body, this treatment is not very popular since there are therapeutic options available.
2. Bone Marrow Transplant
A bone marrow transplant replaces the stem cells where polycythemia originated. This gets to the root of the problem and eliminates it.
Despite the limitations of existing therapies, bone marrow transplantation remains the only known treatment for polycythemia vera. Other treatments are only supportive and do not cure the condition.
Unfortunately, there are significant risks associated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. In addition, many patients may not be a candidate for this treatment because of their age or the inability to find a suitable donor.
1. Supportive Care
If the patient does not respond to therapy, the focus of treating the condition can be shifted to reducing the severity of the symptoms. The advanced stages of polycythemia are frequently characterized by an enlarged spleen and anemia.
A healthcare provider can help provide support to treat the symptoms of advanced stages of polycythemia.
These are the various polycythemia treatments worth knowing.