Secondary Polycythemia

Polycythemia Alternative names is Erythrocytosis. Polycythemiaa condition in which there is a net increase in the total number of red blood cells in the body. Polycythemia is the increase of the red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and total red blood cell volume, accompanied by an increase in total blood volume. This must be distinguished from relative erythrocytosis secondary to fluid loss or decreased intake; this distinction can be made easily on a clinical basis.

Polycythemia accompanies increased total blood volume, whereas relative erythrocytosis does not. Two basic categories of polycythemia. First is intrinsic to red cell precursors and include the diagnoses of primary familial and congenital polycythemia (PFCP) and polycythemia vera (PV) and Second polycythemias are caused by factors extrinsic to red cell precursors.

Polycythemia vera symptoms usually are weakness, fatigue, headache, light-headedness, shortness of breath, and night sweats.Vision may be distorted, and person may have blind spots or may see flashes of light. Bleeding from the gums and more bleeding than would be expected from small cuts are common.

The skin, especially the face, may look red. A person may itch all over, particularly after bathing or showering. Stress polycythemia and Gaisbock's syndrome, relative polycythemia is characterized by normal numbers of red blood cells but decreased levels of plasma (the fluid part of the blood). The liver and spleen may enlarge, as both organs begin to produce blood cells and as the spleen removes more red blood cells from the circulation.

As the liver and spleen enlarge, a sense of fullness in the abdomen may develop. Pain can suddenly become intense should a blood clot develop in blood vessels of the liver or spleen. Some people, the number of platelets (cell-like particles that help the body form blood clots) in the bloodstream increases.

Causes of Secondary Polycythemia

Common causes of Secondary Polycythemia

• Smoking.
• Hemoconcentration (higher-than-normal concentration of cells and solids in the blood, usually due to becoming
• Stress.
• Hippel-Lindau ( VHL)gene.
• Hypoxemia.
• Epo-secreting tumors.
• Epo receptor ( EPOR)gene.

Symptoms of Secondary Polycythemia

Common Symptoms of Secondary Polycythemia

• Weakness.
• Fatigue.
• Headache.
• Light-headedness.
• Shortness of breath.
• Night sweats.
• Gastrointestinal..
• Paresthesias.
• Pruritus.
• Visual disturbance.

Treatment of Secondary Polycythemia

Common Treatment of Secondary Polycythemia

• Provide oxygen supplementation to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Recommend weight loss in patients with obesity and hypoventilation.
• Surgically correct arteriovenous shunts.
• Maintain circulation at its optimal level, phlebotomize or remove the offending red blood cells.
• Recommend smoking cessation for patients with carboxyhemoglobin.
• Some medications( Roferon-A, Chlorambucil, Hydroxyurea and Busulfan )may also be taken to treat symptoms caused by polycythemia.

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