Application of PRV-1 mRNA expression level and JAK2V617F mutation for the differentiating between polycytemia vera and secondary erythrocytosis and assessment of treatment by interferon or hydroxyurea.

AbstractIncreased PRV-1 mRNA expression and the presence of Jak2V617F mutation in peripheral blood granulocytes are specific markers for chronic myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), which facilitate the differential diagnosis between polycythemia vera (PV) and secondary erythrocytosis (SE) and may be helpful for monitoring treatment efficacy in MPD patients. We evaluated the presence of the Jak2V617F mutation and increased PRV-1 mRNA expression along with previously established markers—erythropoietin (EPO) independent colony formation (EEC) and erythropoietin level for diagnosis of PV and assessment of treatment efficiency. Increased PRV-1 expression was found in 37 out of 46 patients diagnosed with PV (80%), in 4 out of 15 patients diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia (ET) (27%) and in 4 out of 8 patients with chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (CIMF) (50%), and increased PRV-1 expression plus EEC formation was observed in 19 of 36 examined MPD patients indicating the superiority of PVSG and WHO bone ma...