Quantification of PRV-1 mRNA distinguishes polycythemia vera from secondary erythrocytosis

Blood. 2003 Nov 15;102(10):3569-74. doi: 10.1182/blood-2003-03-0919. Epub 2003 Jul 31.

Abstract

To date, the diagnosis of polycythemia vera (PV) relies on clinical criteria. We have recently described the overexpression of a hematopoietic receptor, polycythemia rubra vera-1 (PRV-1), in patients with PV. Here, we report a quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for the measurement of PRV-1 mRNA levels. We have determined PRV-1 expression in 71 patients with PV, 11 patients with secondary erythrocytosis (SE), as well as in 80 healthy controls. PV patients express significantly higher amounts of PRV-1 than healthy controls or patients with SE (P <.0001). Because there is no overlap between the PRV-1 expression in PV patients versus healthy controls or SE patients, the assay has a very high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of PV in our population. In patients with erythrocytosis, the quantitative RT-PCR assay described here therefore provides a rapid, highly specific and sensitive tool for the diagnosis of PV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Humans
  • Isoantigens
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
  • Polycythemia / diagnosis*
  • Polycythemia / etiology
  • Polycythemia Vera / chemically induced
  • Polycythemia Vera / diagnosis*
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / analysis
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / standards
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • CD177 protein, human
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Isoantigens
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Cell Surface