Introduction: polycythemia vera is a myeloproliferative disorder. The occurrence of cerebral infarction is rarely reported in this condition.
Observation: A 50-year-old man, presenting with cerebral infarction. The biological test revealed a polycythemia vera.
Discussion: polycythemia vera is a disease of adults. It manifests neurologically by headache, dizziness, visual disturbances, paresthesia with blood hyperviscosity. Severe manifestations like motor deficit may be secondary to venous or arterial thrombosis. The risk of thrombosis is related to blood hyperviscosity, correlated with elevated hematocrit. Treatment is based on bloodletting, hydroxyurea and antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and control of the other thrombotic risk factors.
Key words: Ischemic stroke, Vaquez disease
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