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).[1]
Links
Related Articles
References
- ↑ KLENER, P. Vnitřní lékařství. 3. edition. Galén, 2006. ISBN 80-7262-430-X.
