Polycythemia vera and metabolic syndrome: is the relationship between the two diseases more than we think?

BACKGROUND: Polycythemia vera (PV), the most common myeloproliferative neoplasm, is driven by JAK2 mutations and frequently coexists with metabolic syndrome (MS), a major cardiovascular risk factor. Despite overlapping mechanisms, few studies have evaluated oxidative stress as a potential link between PV and MS. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This observational case - control study was conducted at a tertiary center between 2017 and 2023. Thirty-six patients diagnosed with PV according to the 2016 WHO (World Health Organization) criteria, including 15 with concomitant MS, and 40 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Patients with abnormal hematologic values, impaired renal or hepatic function, elevated CRP, or confounding comorbidities were excluded. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring total antioxidant status(TAS) and total oxidant status(TOS) using spectrophotometric assays. RESULTS: > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that oxidative stress is markedly elevated in patients with concomitant PV and MS, supporting a pathophysiological link between the two conditions. These results underscore the importance of considering oxidative stress in the clinical evaluation of PV patients with metabolic syndrome.