Secondary polyglobulia

Secondary polyglobulia is mostly compensatory in chronic hypoxia (leads to ↑ EPO) when staying at high altitude, chronic lung disease, right-to-left shunts, methemoglobinaemia.

Less often, the cause of ↑ EPO is unclear/a manifestation of a disease (kidney tumors, uterine myomatosis, polycystic kidney disease, etc.).

The clinical picture

 * mainly symptoms of underlying lung/heart disease,
 * plethoric appearance, cyanosis,
 * headaches, dizziness, visual disturbances.

Laboratory Tests

 * ↑ erythrocytes, HTK > 48%, oxygen saturation <92%, ↑ EPO (dif. dg. Polycytaemia vera).

Therapy

 * Th. of underlying disease, venipuncture (↓ blood viscosity + reduces the risk of complications).

Related Articles

 * Erythrocytosis
 * Polycythaemia vera