Secondary polyglobulia

Secondary polyglobulia is mostly compensatory in chronic hypoxia (leads to ↑ EPO) - stay at high altitude, chronic lung disease, PL shunts, methaemoglobinaemia.

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

The clinical picture

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

Laboratory Tests

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

Therapy

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

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Related Articles

 * Erythrocytosis
 * Polycythaemia vera