Objective Through the clinical analysis of 30 cases of polycythemia vera, we explore basic clinical characteristics of this disease, and reduce the misdiagnosis of polycythemia vera, so as to improve the treatment effect. Methods This study analyzed clinical data of polycythemia vera in September 2008 to October 2013. Results In the 30 cases of patients with polycythemia vera,misdiagnosis were 10 cases, accounting for 33.3%; in the patients with good treatment, 8 cases of remission, 18 patients improved significantly, effective treatment accounted for 86.7%. Conclusion The early symptoms of polycythemia vera were not obvious. The misdiagnosis rate was high; in order to reduce the misdiagnosis, the therapeutic effect must be improved.