Does Iron Deficiency in Treated Polycythemia Vera Affect Whole Blood Viscosity?

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Abstract
The relation between whole blood viscosity and Fe status was studied in 11 patients with polycythemia vera (PV) who were treated with venesection without Fe supplementation. Six were already Fe deficient at the start of the study, 5 were followed from normal Fe status to deficiency. Fe status was investigated with serum ferritin, erythrocyte protoporphyrin, mean cell volume and mean cell Hb. There was no correlation between whole blood viscosity at a fixed erythrocyte volume fraction of 44% and any of these variables. The mean whole blood viscosity during Fe deficiency and during normal Fe state did not differ. Even after several months of Fe deficiency there was no increase in whole blood viscosity. Fe deficiency in treated PV does not give increased whole blood viscosity.