Polycythemia Vera Revealed by Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report.

Background and Clinical Significance: Polycythemia vera is a myeloproliferative neoplasm associated with a high thrombotic risk. Although this association is well recognized, acute coronary syndrome as the initial manifestation of polycythemia vera is rare. Case Presentation: We report the case of a previously healthy 57-year-old male with no conventional cardiovascular risk factors who presented with an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography revealed a subocclusive lesion in the left anterior descending artery, which was successfully treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Initial laboratory testing showed markedly elevated hemoglobin (209 g/L) and hematocrit (64.9%), together with thrombocytosis (438 × 109/L). In the absence of conventional risk factors, the combination of a single-vessel coronary lesion and marked hematologic abnormalities raised suspicion for polycythemia vera as a major contributor to coronary thrombosis. Subsequent work-up confirmed polycythemia vera based on the presence of a JAK2 V617F mutation and suppressed erythropoietin levels. The patient underwent therapeutic phlebotomy shortly after angioplasty and was subsequently started on hydroxyurea to maintain a hematocrit below 45%, together with dual antiplatelet therapy.

Conclusions

This case highlights acute myocardial infarction as a rare initial presentation of polycythemia vera. It underscores the importance of considering polycythemia vera in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome and unexplained erythrocytosis, while acknowledging that, in the absence of intracoronary imaging, a definitive causal link between PV and the coronary event cannot be established.