What is the prognosis for polycythemia vera?
The prognosis for untreated polycythemia vera is poor; 50% of patients die within 18 months after diagnosis. Death usually results from heart failure, leukemia, or hemorrhage. Patients being treated for PV can expect to live between 11 and 15 years on average after diagnosis. Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.