Polycythaemia overview

POLYCYTHEMIA
LEARNING OBJECTIVE

At the end of lecture student should be able to know,
• Polycythemia,
• Types of polycythemia,
• Symptoms of polycythemia.
• Effects of polycythemia.



DEFINATION
• A condition in which there is an increase in the red blood cells count in circulation.

Polycythemia
• It is measured as hematocrit level.
• It occur in both physiological and pathological
conditions.

TYPES OF POLYCYTHEMIA
1. Relative polycythemia

1. Absolute Polycythemia
a. Physiological
b. Pathological (Primary and secondary)




1. RELATIVE POLYCYTHEMIA
• This occur when RBCs count is normal but blood volume is reduced by fluid loss.

• Eg excessive serum oxudate from extensive superficial burn, dehydration etc


2. ABSOLUTE POLYCYTHEMIA
It is occur when RBCs count truly increased.

It may be Physiological or Pathological

PHYSIOLOGICAL POLYCYTHEMIA
• When number of RBCs increases in physiological conditions is called physiological polycythemia.
• Increase in number is marginal and temporary

CAUSES OF PHYSIOLOGICAL POLYCYTHEMIA
1. AGE
At birth 8-10 million/cu mm of blood
In children RBCs count is more than adult.

2. SEX
Before puberty and after menopause RBCs count similar to male
1. High altitude
10,000ft above sea level, RBCs count of more than 7million/cu mm of blood due to hypoxia

4. Muscular exercise
Temporary increase in RBC count

PATHOLOGICAL POLYCYTHEMIA
The abnormal increase in RBC count is called pathological polycythemia.

1. PRIMARY PLYCYTHEMIA
( Polycythemia vera )

2. SECONDARY POLYCYTHEMIA


WHAT IT IS ?
• It is primary polycythemia

• RBC count increases 14 million/cu mm

• Associated with increased WBCs count above 24000/cu mm of blood

CAUSES
Polycythemia vera occur in:

• Myeloproliferative disorders.

• Malignancy of red bone marrow.

• Some times mutation of body’s gene JAK which

make protein that helps RBCs production , even it is not genetic disorder

SECONDARY POLYCYTHEMIA
Increased level of erythropoietin due to :
• Disorder that decreases O2 carrying capacity of Hb.
High altitude
Pulmonary diseases
Congestive heart failure

• Tumors of liver, brain, Pituitary, Kidney