ASH Clinical News July 2015_updated | Page 11

Clinical Need in PV Phlebotomy to maintain Hct at <45% plus low-dose aspirin Therapeutic approaches to PV focus on3,11: • Controlling and maintaining hematocrit levels at <45% • Treating complications of thrombosis and hemorrhage • Reducing thrombotic risk and minimizing the risk of leukogenic transformation • Managing splenomegaly and other disease-related symptoms • Poor compliance or tolerance to frequent phlebotomy • Symptomatic or progressive splenomegaly • High risk of thrombosis • Severe disease-related symptoms • Progressive myeloproliferation (leukocytosis or thrombocytosis) Phlebotomy is usually the starting point of treatment in patients with PV, in addition to therapy with low-dose aspirin.2,11 Lowdose aspirin has been shown to prev