Polycythemia rubra vera. A report of three cases and review of literature

Three case reports of Polycythemia Rubra Vera are mentioned. Two were male and one was female, The hemorrhagic complications were seen in males only. The females presented with headache, abdominal pain and cyanosis. All patients responded to Hydorxy Urea. CASE: 65 yrs. Old Mr. M.S. resident of North Karachi presented to OPD of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital in July 2000 with complaints of persistent headache for last 6 months and painful swelling in left upper chest on the back for 2 days. He was non smoker and afebrile. On examination he was an old man of thin built having plethoric face and conjunctival injection. He had an overall dusky cyanotic complexion. The examination of swelling revealed a 25cm x 12cm fluctuant tender swelling. There was hepatosplenomegaly. A provisional diagnosis of polycytemia vera was made and blood was sent for investigation. Hemoglobin came to 18gm/dl