A phase II trial of pegylated interferon alpha-2b therapy for polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: feasibility, clinical and biologic effects, and impact on quality of life.

Background: Conventional interferon-alpha (IFN) is an effective treatment for patients with myeloproliferative disorders. However, many patients discontinue therapy because of side effects.

Methods: In this 24-month, Phase II feasibility study of pegylated interferon alpha-2b (PEG-IFN) treatment, a starting dose of 0.

Quantification of PRV-1 mRNA distinguishes polycythemia vera from secondary erythrocytosis.

To date, the diagnosis of polycythemia vera (PV) relies on clinical criteria. We have recently described the overexpression of a hematopoietic receptor, polycythemia rubra vera-1 (PRV-1), in patients with PV. Here, we report a quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for the measurement of PRV-1 mRNA levels.