Survival of polycythaemia vera patients treated with radioactive phosphorus.

The Management of Polycythaemia Vera*

“…The enthusiasm for radiotherapy in polycythaemia Vera has been somewhat mitigated by the excess of leukaemia in cases so treated reflecting not only the leukaemogenic effect of ionizing radiation, but also an increased susceptibility of erythraemic patients (20-40 times greater than expected for a comparable population at risk) to the induction of leukaemia by radiation (Schwartz Reports of the virtual absence of acute leukaemia in cases of polycythaemia Vera treated with and without radiation have recently appeared and are particularly difficult to interpret(Perkins et al, 1964; Halnan & Russell, 1965)~ since in every other large series at least a few cases have been noted (Modan & Lilienfeld, 1965; Tubiana et al, 1968).Proponents of 32P therapy have felt that the benefits conferred upon the patient in terms of ease of administration, reduced morbidity, and prolonged survival (13-1 5 yr from diagnosis) justified the possible risk of induction of acute leukaemia(Halnan & Russell, 1965 ;Harman …”

Present status of32P-therapy in management of polycythemia vera

“…Published experience with this form of therapy is scanty as compared to 32p therapy. This exactly equals survival time of 32p_ treated patients [2,5,10,11,15,18,23,27]. This exactly equals survival time of 32p_ treated patients [2,5,10,11,15,18,23,27].…”

A review of the therapeutic agents used in the management of polycythaemia vera

“…Compared to a rate of acute leukaemia of 14% in the PV patients it was only 2.5% in those with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia suggesting that PV has a greater propensity to transform to leukaemia. The terminology is a continuing problem as evidenced by a report from Harman [24] who in a series of 132 patients with PV treated with 32 P there were no reported deaths from leukaemia but 34% of deaths are due to anaemia which often had the findings of 'immature white cells and frank leucoblastosis in the blood or bone marrow'. We would now probably consider this myelofibrosis with acute leukaemia as a terminal event.…”