Open AccessUnintentional Dual Benefit: Improvement in Secondary Polycythemia in a Patient Receiving Chemotherapy for Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Author(s) -
Brooke Kania,
Erinie Mekheal,
Sherif Roman,
Nader Mekheal,
Vinod Kumar,
Michael Maroules
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
european journal of case reports in internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.125
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 2284-2594
DOI - 10.12890/2022_003125
Subject(s) - medicine , renal cell carcinoma , phlebotomy , chemotherapy , erythropoietin , malignancy , cancer , oncology , thrombosis
Complete blood counts are frequently collected from cancer patients, but laboratory findings may be misleading. Secondary polycythemia can occur in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) due to erythropoietin (EPO) stimulation. Therefore, complete blood counts should be closely monitored to prevent complications such as thrombosis. We discuss the case of a 47-year-old man with metastatic RCC who presented with secondary polycythemia that improved with chemotherapy. His secondary erythrocytosis was anticipated, but his haemoglobin levels were lower than expected after therapy. This article discusses the treatment and diagnosis of secondary polycythemia in patients with RCC.