Polycythemia

Polycythemia is a disease state in which the red blood cell numbers are increased in the blood (erythrocytosis), which in turn makes blood thicker and can cause circulatory problems. Polycythemia Vera is a stem cell disease belonged to a group of myeloproliferative neoplasm in which the erythroid progenitors are overly proliferated by acquired mutation of the JAK2 gene, resulting in excessive erythrocytosis. Secondary Polycythemia refers erythrocytosis due to underlying conditions. It is usually associated with increased blood erythropoietin levels as a compensatory reaction to tissue hypoxia, which can be seen in patients with chronic lung disease or sleep apnea or living at high altitudes. Certain tumors produce the erythropoiet ©Win and testosterestern University of Heone incralth Scienceseases the blood erythropoietin level, resulting in secondary polycythemia. Relative polycythemia is the consequence of plasma volume contraction, falsely raising the RBC count and hemoglobin/hematocrit level in CBC. Two cases of polycythemia are presented: 1) a patient with polycythemia vera and 2) a patient with secondary polycythemia. Various types of polycythemia are discussed with an updated review covering the etiology, clinical manifestation, diagnostic approach and treatment.