Research Article

Genetic Markers of Erythrocytosis: Can the Presence of JAK2 Mutation Be Determined via Complete Blood Count Parameters and/or Serum Erythropoietin Level?

Volume: 79 Number: 1 March 27, 2026
TR EN

Genetic Markers of Erythrocytosis: Can the Presence of JAK2 Mutation Be Determined via Complete Blood Count Parameters and/or Serum Erythropoietin Level?

Abstract

Introduction: In our study, we aimed to predict the presence of the JAK2V617F mutation using haemogram, biochemical parameters, and serum erythropoietin (EPO) levels in patients with erythrocytosis living at high altitudes. Methods: In this retrospective study, 186 patients who presented with erythrocytosis between 2022 and 2025 and had resided at an altitude of ~1800 metres for at least one year were examined. The presence of erythrocytosis was determined according to the 2022 World Health Organisation criteria. Demographic, haematological, and biochemical parameters, as well as serum EPO levels, of the patients were compared according to the presence of the JAK2V617F mutation. Multivariate logistic regression and ROC analysis were then applied. Results: The study included 186 patients; 151 (81.2%) were negative for the JAK2V617F mutation, and 35 (18.8%) were positive. Mutation-positive patients were significantly older ( p < 0.001). Univariate analyses revealed decreased levels of haemoglobin (p = 0.015), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) (p = 0.029), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) (p < 0.001), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) (p < 0.001), and EPO (p < 0.001). They significantly increased proliferative parameters, including Red Blood Cell Count (RBC) (p = 0.001), Platelet Count (PLT) (p < 0.001), Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) (p <0.001), and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) (p < 0.001). When these variables were analysed by multivariate logistic regression analysis, RBC (p = 0.023) and PLT (p = 0.006) were found to be independent predictors of mutation positivity. EPO (p = 0.057) and Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) (p = 0.092) showed borderline significance, whereas the JAKPOT score was not significant in the multivariate model (p = 0.176). According to ROC analysis, PLT was the most powerful parameter in differentiating JAK2V617F mutation (AUC: 0.849), whereas MPV had low diagnostic performance. RBC ≥6.61 × 10¹²/L and PLT ≥336.5 × 10⁹/L thresholds provided high accuracy in mutation prediction. Conclusion: RBC and PLT levels are robust and cost-effective markers for predicting the presence of JAK2V617F mutation. EPO levels made a limited contribution. Otherwise, the JAKPOT score was ineffective. Environmental factors, especially high altitude, should be considered when interpreting diagnostic markers in erythrocytosis.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

The study received ethical approval from the local ethics committee (date: 2.7.2025, no: 2025/06-26- E.7530).

References

  1. Thiele J, Kvasnicka HM, Orazi A, et al. The international consensus classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias: myeloproliferative neoplasms. Am J Hematol. 2023;98 (1):166–179.
  2. Tefferi A, Vannucchi AM, Barbui T. Polycythemia vera: historical oversights, diagnostic details, and therapeutic views. Leukemia. 2021;35(12):3339–3351.
  3. Chin-Yee B, Bhai P, Cheong 1 et al. A rational approach to JAK2 mutation testing in patients with elevated hemoglobin: results from the JAK2 pre-diction cohort (JAKPOT) study. J Gen 1ntern Med. 2023;38 (8):1828-1833. Kucine N. Myeloproliferative neoplasms in children, adolescents, and young adults. Curr Hematol Malig Rep. 2020;15(2):141–148.
  4. Liu D, Xu Z, Zhang P, et al. Iron deficiency in JAK2 exon 12 and JAK2-V617F mutated polycythemia vera. Blood Cancer J. 2021;11(9):154.
  5. Alkhaldy HY, Alqarni AM, Bhakeet OSE, et al. Diagnostic performance of red blood cell indices, serum erythropoietin, and JAK2 mutation testing for the evaluation of polycythemia vera at high altitude. Blood. 2023;142:6398.
  6. Jia C, Sun T, Yang R, et al. Deciphering neutrophil heterogeneity and thrombosis- related alterations in JAK2V617F-mutated myeloproliferative neoplasms through multi-omics and single-cell transcriptome analysis. Blood. 2024;144:3138.
  7. Senecal J, Madan Y, Rajkumar S, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of erythropoietin and JAKPOT in predicting JAK2-positive erythrocytosis: a retrospective cohort study. Blood. 2024;144:5017.
  8. Miura S, Ueda K, Misaka T, et al. Characteristics and consequences of platelets derived from JAK2-mutated megakaryocytes. Blood. 2024;144:3140.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

​Internal Diseases, Medical Genetics (Excl. Cancer Genetics), Cancer Genetics, Predictive and Prognostic Markers

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 27, 2026

Submission Date

November 21, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 22, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 79 Number: 1

APA
Koyun, D., Söylemez, F., & Yakar, Ö. (2026). Genetic Markers of Erythrocytosis: Can the Presence of JAK2 Mutation Be Determined via Complete Blood Count Parameters and/or Serum Erythropoietin Level? Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası, 79(1), 98-107. https://doi.org/10.65092/autfm.1827667
AMA
1.Koyun D, Söylemez F, Yakar Ö. Genetic Markers of Erythrocytosis: Can the Presence of JAK2 Mutation Be Determined via Complete Blood Count Parameters and/or Serum Erythropoietin Level? Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası. 2026;79(1):98-107. doi:10.65092/autfm.1827667
Chicago
Koyun, Derya, Fatma Söylemez, and Ömer Yakar. 2026. “Genetic Markers of Erythrocytosis: Can the Presence of JAK2 Mutation Be Determined via Complete Blood Count Parameters and Or Serum Erythropoietin Level?”. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası 79 (1): 98-107. https://doi.org/10.65092/autfm.1827667.
EndNote
Koyun D, Söylemez F, Yakar Ö (March 1, 2026) Genetic Markers of Erythrocytosis: Can the Presence of JAK2 Mutation Be Determined via Complete Blood Count Parameters and/or Serum Erythropoietin Level? Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası 79 1 98–107.
IEEE
[1]D. Koyun, F. Söylemez, and Ö. Yakar, “Genetic Markers of Erythrocytosis: Can the Presence of JAK2 Mutation Be Determined via Complete Blood Count Parameters and/or Serum Erythropoietin Level?”, Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası, vol. 79, no. 1, pp. 98–107, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.65092/autfm.1827667.
ISNAD
Koyun, Derya - Söylemez, Fatma - Yakar, Ömer. “Genetic Markers of Erythrocytosis: Can the Presence of JAK2 Mutation Be Determined via Complete Blood Count Parameters and Or Serum Erythropoietin Level?”. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası 79/1 (March 1, 2026): 98-107. https://doi.org/10.65092/autfm.1827667.
JAMA
1.Koyun D, Söylemez F, Yakar Ö. Genetic Markers of Erythrocytosis: Can the Presence of JAK2 Mutation Be Determined via Complete Blood Count Parameters and/or Serum Erythropoietin Level? Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası. 2026;79:98–107.
MLA
Koyun, Derya, et al. “Genetic Markers of Erythrocytosis: Can the Presence of JAK2 Mutation Be Determined via Complete Blood Count Parameters and Or Serum Erythropoietin Level?”. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası, vol. 79, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 98-107, doi:10.65092/autfm.1827667.
Vancouver
1.Derya Koyun, Fatma Söylemez, Ömer Yakar. Genetic Markers of Erythrocytosis: Can the Presence of JAK2 Mutation Be Determined via Complete Blood Count Parameters and/or Serum Erythropoietin Level? Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası. 2026 Mar. 1;79(1):98-107. doi:10.65092/autfm.1827667