Delayed diagnosis of polycythaemia vera in an adult female with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension

Abstract

Polycythaemia vera (PV) is a rare myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized primarily by erythrocytosis and an increased risk of thrombosis. We report a case of PV in a 60-year-old female with diabetes mellitus (DM) and a past history of recurrent abdominal pain and documented oesophageal varices who was followed up for 2 years as a case of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension of unknown cause. PV was only diagnosed after persistent complaints of vasomotor symptoms and better scrutiny of full blood count results.