Quantification of PRV-1 mRNA distinguishes polycythemia vera from secondary erythrocytosis.
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.
Klippel
Steffen
S
Department of Experimental Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Freiburg, Center for Clinical Research, Breisacher Str 66, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Strunck
Elisabeth
E
Temerinac
Snezana
S
Bench
Anthony J
AJ
Meinhardt
Gerold
G
Mohr
Ursula
U
Leichtle
Rosi
R
Green
Anthony R
AR
Griesshammer
Martin
M
Heimpel
Hermann
H
Pahl
Heike L
HL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007519:Isoantigens; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
C407242:CD177 protein, human; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D007519:Isoantigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface