Could hypoxia increase the prevalence of thrombotic complications in polycythemia vera?

Thromboses represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in polycythemia vera but the contributing mechanisms are not fully described. To evaluate whether environmental conditions such as altitude/hypoxia could impact thrombosis history, we retrospectively analyzed thrombosis history in 71 polycythemia vera patients living at an elevation of 5000 feet or more in the Salt Lake City (SLC) area and 166 polycythemia vera patients living near sea level in the Baltimore (BLM) area. The SLC cohort was older with a longer disease duration.