One of the therapies that has been used to treat polycythemia vera is interferon alpha.
It is administered as an injection.
Polycythemia vera can occur at any age, but is much more common in people over 60.
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With polycythemia vera, thered blood cell countsbecome higher than normaloftenmuchhigher than normal.
Polycythemia can lead to an increased risk of bleeding.
People with polycythemia vera may also develop an enlarged spleen and gastrointestinal ulcers.
There is no cure for polycythemia vera.
Among these treatments is interferon alpha.
Interferons also have actions which can help to fight certain bacterial infections and can inhibit the growth of neoplasms.
Another use for interferon alpha is in the treatment of polycythemia vera.
Treatment is based on whether the patient is judged to be at high or low risk.
Aspirin is also reasonably effective in reducing two symptoms that are peculiar to polycythemia verapruritus and erythromelalgia.
Once it is under 45%, phlebotomy is required every two to four weeks or less.
For this reason, cytoreductive therapy is commonly used even in low-risk patients who have troublesome and persistent symptoms.
Today, it is used chiefly when other drugs have been tried and have failed.
Some studies suggest that interferon alpha may produce somewhat better disease control than hydroxyurea.
However, interferon alpha is more difficult to tolerate than hydroxyurea and is also substantially more expensive.
PEGylated refers to the fact that a polyethylene glycol chain has been added to the interferon alpha.
Studies are ongoing comparing the efficacy of PEGylated interferon alpha-2a with hydroxyurea.
It is useful in treating polycythemia vera, a form of neoplasm.
Currently it is considered a second-line drug for this condition.
