Hyperlipidemia and myocardial infarction among 118 patients with polycythemia vera.

Hyperlipidemia was reported among 46 of 118 polycythemia vera patients as compared to a control group of 115 healthy subjects in whom hyperlipidemia was reported in 20. Among the 46 hyperlipidemic patients with polycythemia vera 14 had a myocardial infarction, while among the other 72 nonhyperlipidemic polycythemia vera patients myocardial infarction occurred amont 17. Since repeated phlebotomies may induce hyperlipidemia, this form of treatment of polycythemia vera may be potentially dangerous in already hyperlipidemic polycythemia vera patients.