PV diagnostic criteria include?

PV diagnostic criteria include?

• A. Elevated EPO and absence of JAK2 mutation
• B. Subnormal EPO with JAK2 V617F or JAK2 exon 12 mutation
• C. Elevated EPO with BCR-ABL positivity
• D. Normal EPO with elevated ferritin

Answer: (B)

Polycythemia vera is a clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm driven by JAK2 mutations, most commonly JAK2 V617F or JAK2 exon 12. In PV, red-cell production is autonomous, so the body’s EPO signal is suppressed. Therefore, a subnormal serum EPO level in the presence of a JAK2 mutation is a hallmark finding and aligns with the diagnostic criteria. Elevated EPO would suggest a secondary cause of polycythemia rather than PV, BCR-ABL positivity points toward CML, and normal EPO with high ferritin does not fit the PV pattern. Hence, subnormal EPO with a JAK2 mutation best matches PV diagnostic criteria.

Polycythemia vera is a clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm driven by JAK2 mutations, most commonly JAK2 V617F or JAK2 exon 12. In PV, red-cell production is autonomous, so the body’s EPO signal is suppressed. Therefore, a subnormal serum EPO level in the presence of a JAK2 mutation is a hallmark finding and aligns with the diagnostic criteria. Elevated EPO would suggest a secondary cause of polycythemia rather than PV, BCR-ABL positivity points toward CML, and normal EPO with high ferritin does not fit the PV pattern. Hence, subnormal EPO with a JAK2 mutation best matches PV diagnostic criteria.