JAK2 V617F and the evolving paradigm of polycythemia vera

Abstract

Polycythemia vera (PV) was first described nearly 120 years ago. In the subsequent century, the clinical syndrome of PV, its natural history, its treatment, and many critical pathogenetic features of the disease were characterized. The discovery of the Janus-associated kinase - 2 mutation JAK2 V617F and the characterization of its role in myeloproliferative neoplasms have substantially changed the diagnostic paradigm for PV, and have potential to lead to new therapy and new pathogenetic insights.