Course and transformation of polycythaemia vera in relation to therapy.

The fate of the polycythaemic patient depends on the treatment employed which may determine the nature of the transformation commonly occurring late in the course of the disease. Treatment is, on the other hand, aimed at prevention of the most frequent complications, that is of thromboembolic processes. In the last 30 years the authors treated a total of 118 PV patients, of whom 60 have died.