Polycythemia, or erythrocytosis, is an increase in red cell mass classified into absolute and relative forms. Absolute polycythemia includes primary polycythemia vera and secondary polycythemia due to various conditions, while relative polycythemia occurs with normal red cell mass but reduced plasma volume. Clinical symptoms include headaches, blurred vision, and hypertension, with potential complications such as blood clots leading to severe health risks.

1. POLYCYTHEMIA
PREPARED BY: JEGAN. S. NADAR

2. Polycythemia
Polycythemia or erythrocytosis is characterized by an increase in the red cell mass,
measured as increased hemoglobin and hematocrit above the normal level.
Polycythemia is classified into:
Absolute polycythemia- red cell mass (volume) is raised, which is subdivided
into primary and secondary polycythemia.
Relative or pseudopolycythemia -red cell volume is normal but the plasma
volume is reduced.
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3. Secondary Polycythemia
• Secondary polycythemia is an increase in red cell mass which can occur because of many
conditions. It resolves when the underlying cause is treated.
• It is due to increased erythropoietin effect
• Causes of secondary polycythemia:
High altitudes
Pulmonary disease and alveolar hypoventilation
Cardiovascular disease , especially congenital with the cyanosis
Increased affinity haemoglobin (familial polycythaemia)
Heavy cigarette smoking
Renal cancer
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4. Jegan

5. Polycythaemia rubra vera (PRV), also known as polycythaemia vera and is a
myeloproliferative disorder in which there is increased production of red cells,
granulocytes and platelets.
 In PRV, the increase in red cell volume is caused by a clonal malignancy of marrow stem
cell.
Polycythaemia vera is a rare chronic disease diagnosed in an estimated 2 to 3 people per
100,000 population.
Although it can occur at any age, polycythaemia vera usually affects older people, with
most patients diagnosed over the age of 55 years.
Polycythaemia vera is rare in children and young adults. It occurs more commonly in males
than in females.
PRIMARY POLYCYTHEMIA
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6. Relative polycythemia
Relative polycythemia is an apparent rise of the erythrocyte level in the blood; however,
the underlying cause is reduced blood plasma.
A specific type of relative polycythemia is Gaisböck syndrome.
In this syndrome, primarily occurring in obese men, hypertension causes a reduction in
plasma volume, resulting in a relative increase in red blood cell count.
 Causes of relative polycythemia:
Stress
Cigarette smoking
Dehydration: water deprivation, vomiting
Plasma loss: burns, enteropathy
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7. Jegan

8. Clinical Findings
SYMPTOMS
Headaches, dyspnea, numbness or tingling in the fingers.
Blurred vision
Sweating during nights.
Redness of the skin especially the face, may look red, ruddy cyanosis.
Weight loss.
Hypertension.
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9. ComplicationsPossible complications of polycythemia vera include:
Blood clots - Polycythemia vera causes an increase in blood thickness and decrease in
blood flow, as well as abnormalities in the platelets, and this increase the risk of blood
clots.
Blood clots can cause a stroke, a heart attack, or blockage of an artery in the lungs
(pulmonary embolism) or in a vein deep within a muscle (deep vein thrombosis).
It is the major cause of death in 10-40% of patients.
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10. DIAGNOSIS
 Complete blood test
 Blood smear test
 Erythropoietin level
 Bone marrow test
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