This PPT cover the pathophysiology of Polycythemia which includes types of polycythemia, pathophysiology, symptoms and diagnosis.

1. POLYCYTHEMIA
PREPARED BY: JEGAN. S. NADAR

2. Polycythemia
Polycythemia or erythrocytosis is characterized by an increase in the red cell mass,
measured as increased hemoglobin and hematocrit above the normal level.
Polycythemia is classified into:
Absolute polycythemia- red cell mass (volume) is raised, which is subdivided
into primary and secondary polycythemia.
Relative or pseudopolycythemia -red cell volume is normal but the plasma
volume is reduced.
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3. Secondary Polycythemia
• Secondary polycythemia is an increase in red cell mass which can occur because of many
conditions. It resolves when the underlying cause is treated.
• It is due to increased erythropoietin effect
• Causes of secondary polycythemia:
High altitudes
Pulmonary disease and alveolar hypoventilation
Cardiovascular disease , especially congenital with the cyanosis
Increased affinity haemoglobin (familial polycythaemia)
Heavy cigarette smoking
Renal cancer
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4. Jegan

5. Polycythaemia rubra vera (PRV), also known as polycythaemia vera and is a
myeloproliferative disorder in which there is increased production of red cells,
granulocytes and platelets.
 In PRV, the increase in red cell volume is caused by a clonal malignancy of marrow stem
cell.
Polycythaemia vera is a rare chronic disease diagnosed in an estimated 2 to 3 people per
100,000 population.
Although it can occur at any age, polycythaemia vera usually affects older people, with
most patients diagnosed over the age of 55 years.
Polycythaemia vera is rare in children and young adults. It occurs more commonly in males
than in females.
PRIMARY POLYCYTHEMIA
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6. Relative polycythemia
Relative polycythemia is an apparent rise of the erythrocyte level in the blood; however,
the underlying cause is reduced blood plasma.
A specific type of relative polycythemia is Gaisböck syndrome.
In this syndrome, primarily occurring in obese men, hypertension causes a reduction in
plasma volume, resulting in a relative increase in red blood cell count.
 Causes of relative polycythemia:
Stress
Cigarette smoking
Dehydration: water deprivation, vomiting
Plasma loss: burns, enteropathy
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7. Jegan

8. Clinical Findings
SYMPTOMS
Headaches, dyspnea, numbness or tingling in the fingers.
Blurred vision
Sweating during nights.
Redness of the skin especially the face, may look red, ruddy cyanosis.
Weight loss.
Hypertension.
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9. ComplicationsPossible complications of polycythemia vera include:
Blood clots - Polycythemia vera causes an increase in blood thickness and decrease in
blood flow, as well as abnormalities in the platelets, and this increase the risk of blood
clots.
Blood clots can cause a stroke, a heart attack, or blockage of an artery in the lungs
(pulmonary embolism) or in a vein deep within a muscle (deep vein thrombosis).
It is the major cause of death in 10-40% of patients.
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10. DIAGNOSIS
 Complete blood test
 Blood smear test
 Erythropoietin level
 Bone marrow test
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