A case of spinal cord infarction caused by polycythemia vera

Study design: This is a case report. Objective: The objective of this study was to report on a 66-year-old woman with a confirmed diagnosis of polycythemia vera who presented with acute spinal cord infarction. Setting: A 66-year-old woman was previously diagnosed with polycythemia vera and presented with acute paraparesis and urinary retention. Results: The patient's platelet count was 847 000 platelets per mu l. T2-and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed hyperintensity at the T12-L1 spinal cord. Computed tomography of the abdominal aorta further revealed multiple thrombi filling the aortic lumen. Conclusions: Polycythemia vera creates a high risk of systemic thrombosis due to hyperviscosity and platelet activation. Although acute infarction in the spinal cord is a rare complication of this myeloproliferative disease, it should be considered in all affected patients.