Polycythaemia

 

  • Definition

    • ↑Red blood cells as proportion of plasma volume (↑haematocrit).
    • Men: Hct >52%.
    • Women: Hct >48%.
    • Neonates: Hct >65%.

  • Differential diagnosis

    Primary:

    • Polycythaemia vera.

    Secondary:

    • Hypoxia: smoking, sleep apnoea, chronic lung disease, cyanotic congenital heart disease, high altitude.
    • ↑EPO: renal cell carcinoma, polycystic kidney disease, hepatocellular carcinoma.
    • Relative polycythaemia: ↓plasma volume but normal RBC level, seen in dehydration.

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