Improving the management of Polycythemia Vera patients eligible for cytoreduction: report of a multidisciplinary advisory board.

INTRODUCTION

The management of patients with Polycythemia Vera (PV) traditionally includes low-dose aspirin, phlebotomy, and cytoreductive therapy for high-risk individuals. Recent evidence suggests that cytoreductive treatment may be warranted for patients with additional risk factors beyond the traditional criteria of a history of thrombosis and age over 60 years. Introducing new therapeutic agents, including ropeginterferon alfa-2b and ruxolitinib, enables a more personalized treatment approach tailored to individual patient characteristics.

CASE REPORT: This report presents three complex clinical scenarios involving patients with PV who required cytoreductive therapy, which were discussed by a multidisciplinary advisory board. Each case is accompanied by a concise literature review and recommendations from non-hematologist specialists on managing adverse events associated with cytoreductive treatment. A multidisciplinary expert panel has identified three conceptual pathways to guide clinicians in selecting cytoreductive therapies and managing their associated complications.

CONCLUSION

The advent of new criteria for starting cytoreduction and the approval of novel drugs for PV has increased the complexity of selecting appropriate cytoreductive therapies. A multidisciplinary approach is increasingly essential to ensure personalized care that maximizes tolerability and minimizes adverse events, particularly given the often chronic nature of the treatment.