POLYCYTHAEMIA

(ERYTHROCYTOSIS)

relative polycythaemia:

any cause of plasma loss:

dehydration (diuretics, etc.)

Addison's disease

prolonged bed rest

burns

apparent polycythaemia:

'stress polycythaemia' (Gaisböck syndrome)

absolute polycythaemia:

1� polycythaemia

polycythaemia rubra vera [a myeloproliferative disorder; low/undetectable erythropoeitin]

2� polycythaemia [raised erythropoietin]:

appropriate (due to chronic hypoxia):

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Pickwickian syndrome

cyanotic heart disease

high altitudes

inappropriate (erythropoeitin-secreting tumours):

renal cell carcinoma

hepatocellular carcinoma

cerebellar haemangioblastoma

post-renal transplantation

uterine myoma

Cushing's syndrome

click here to return to the main contents page of Differential Diagnoses in General Medicine

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1