What Can Cause High Red Blood Cell Count

• What is?
  • Polycythemia (loftier crimson claret cell count) definition and facts
  • What is polycythemia?
• Symptoms/Signs
  • What are the symptoms and signs of polycythemia?
• Normal Ranges
  • What are the normal ranges for red blood cells?
• Causes
  • What causes a high red blood jail cell count?
  • What causes primary polycythemia?
  • What causes secondary polycythemia?
  • Can other sources of erythropoietin (EPO) crusade polycythemia?
• Stress PV
  • What are stress and smokers polycythemia?
• Relative PV
  • What is relative polycythemia?
• Run a risk Factors
  • What are the gamble factors for polycythemia?
• Call a Doctor
  • When should y'all call a doctor for polycythemia?
• Tests/Diagnosis
  • What tests ostend the diagnosis of polycythemia?
• Treatment
  • What is the treatment for polycythemia?
• Complications
  • What are the complications of polycythemia?
• Can You lot Die?
  • What is the life expectancy for polycythemia? Is information technology fatal?
• Can Y'all Prevent?
  • Can you prevent polycythemia?
• Center
  • High Ruby-red Claret Cell Count (Polycythemia) Symptoms, Types, Causes, Diagnosis, Handling, and Life Expectancy Middle
• Comments
  • Patient Comments: Polycythemia (High Red Blood Prison cell Count) - Cause
  • Patient Comments: Polycythemia - Experience
  • Patient Comments: Polycythemia - Symptoms
  • Patient Comments: Polycythemia - Treatment
• More
  • Find a local Hematologist in your town

Polycythemia (high red blood cell count) definition and facts

Symptoms of a loftier cerise blood cell count include headache and fatigue.

• Polycythemia means increased scarlet blood prison cell volume.
• Polycythemia is divided into ii main categories; main and secondary.
• Polycythemia can be linked to secondary causes, such as, chronic hypoxia or tumors releasing erythropoietin.
• Abnormally increased red cell product in the bone marrow causes polycythemia vera.
• Treatment of secondary polycythemia is dependent on the underlying condition.
• Polycythemia is treated by phlebotomy (controlled claret letting) and hydroxyurea.

Symptoms and Signs of Chronic Bronchitis

The most common major signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis are:

• Cough and sputum product. Sputum can be greenish, yellowish, clear, or occasionally, blood tinged.
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

What is polycythemia?

• Readers Comments 21
• Share Your Story

Polycythemia definition

Polycythemia is a condition that results in an increased level of circulating red blood cells in the bloodstream. People with polycythemia have an increment in hematocrit, hemoglobin, or carmine blood cell count above the normal limits.

Polycythemia is normally reported in terms of increased hematocrit (hematocrit is the ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the total volume of claret) or hemoglobin concentration (hemoglobin is a protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood).

• Hematocrit (HCT): Polycythemia is considered when the hematocrit is greater than 48% in women and 52% in men.
• Hemoglobin (HGB): Polycythemia is considered when in that location is a hemoglobin level of greater than sixteen.5g/dL in women or hemoglobin level greater than18.5 g/dL in men.

Polycythemia can exist divided into two categories: primary and secondary.

• Primary polycythemia: In primary polycythemia the increase in red blood cells is caused by inherent problems in the process of red blood jail cell production.
• Secondary polycythemia: Secondary polycythemia mostly occurs every bit a response to other factors or underlying conditions that promote red blood cell production.

Red cell production (erythropoiesis) takes identify in the bone marrow through a complex sequence of tightly regulated steps. The master regulator of the cherry-red jail cell production is the hormone erythropoietin (EPO). This hormone is largely secreted by the kidneys, although, near 10% may be produced and secreted by the liver.

Erythropoietin secretion is upward-regulated in response to depression oxygen levels (hypoxia) in the blood. More oxygen can be carried to tissues when erythropoietin stimulates ruby claret cell production in the bone marrow to compensate for the hypoxia.

Neonatal (newborn) polycythemia tin can exist seen in 1% to five% of newborns. The most common causes may be related to transfusion of claret, transfer of placental blood to the infant after delivery, or chronic inadequate oxygenation of the fetus (intrauterine hypoxia) due to placental insufficiency.

QUESTION

Sickle prison cell disease is named after a farming tool. See Answer

What are the symptoms and signs of polycythemia?

• Readers Comments 11
• Share Your Story

Polycythemia symptoms

Symptoms of polycythemia can be none to minimal in many people. Some general and non-specific polycythemia symptoms include:

1. weakness,
2. fatigue,
3. headache,
4. itching,
5. bruising,
6. joint pain,
7. dizziness, or
8. abdominal pain.

In patients with polycythemia vera, other blood disorders are also very common. Thus, bleeding problems or clotting events may occur in these patients. Itching after showers or baths (post-bath pruritus) can likewise occur in patients with polycythemia vera for unclear reasons. Articulation pains also are mutual in patients with polycythemia vera. Tender redness of the palms and soles is called erythromelalgia.

Symptoms of secondary polycythemia may exist more closely attributed to the underlying condition, such as, chronic lung illness, than to polycythemia itself. Therefore, shortness of breath, chronic cough, sleep disturbance (slumber apnea), dizziness, poor exercise tolerance, or fatigue may be common in patients with polycythemia.

If polycythemia is related to kidney cancer, liver cancer, or other erythropoietin secreting tumors, the symptoms of these conditions -- such as, weight loss, intestinal pain or fullness, or jaundice -- may be predominant.

Daily Health News

Trending on MedicineNet

What are the normal ranges for red blood cells?

Red blood cell count ranges

• Hematocrit is the ratio of the book of red cells to the volume of whole blood. The normal range for hematocrit varies between sexes and is approximately 45% to 52% for men and 37% to 48% for women.
• Cerise cell count signifies the number of red claret cells in a volume of blood. The normal range in men is approximately iv.vii to 6.one one thousand thousand cells/ul (microliter). The normal range in women ranges from iv.2 to five.4 million cells/ul, according to NIH (National Institutes of Health) information.
• Hemoglobin is a protein in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and gives claret its red color. The normal range for hemoglobin may differ betwixt the sexes and is approximately 13 to xviii grams per deciliter for men and 12 to xvi grams per deciliter for women.

What causes a loftier cherry claret cell count?

• Readers Comments 28
• Share Your Story

Polycythemia causes

Causes of polycythemia are primary or secondary. In primary polycythemia, abnormalities in red blood jail cell production crusade an increase in red cell count. In secondary polycythemia, factors external to scarlet blood cell production (for example, hypoxia, sleep apnea, certain tumors) upshot in polycythemia.

SLIDESHOW

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): Tests, Causes, Treatments See Slideshow

What causes main polycythemia?

Causes of polycythemia are principal or secondary. In main polycythemia, abnormalities in red blood prison cell product cause an increment in cherry prison cell count. In secondary polycythemia, factors external to blood-red blood jail cell production (for case, hypoxia, slumber apnea, sure tumors) effect in polycythemia.

Chief polycythemias are due to caused or inherited genetic mutations causing abnormally high levels of red claret cell precursors. Chief familial and congenital polycythemia (PFCP) and polycythemia vera (PV) are in this category.

Polycythemia vera

Polycythemia vera is a rare condition. One study indicated that in that location were 65,243 patients with PV in the United States in 2003. Polycythemia vera is typically associated with an elevated white claret cell count (leukocytosis) and platelet count (thrombocytosis). An enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) and low erythropoietin levels are other clinical features of polycythemia vera.

Until recently, the exact machinery of polycythemia vera was non well understood. In 2005, genetic mutations of the JAK2 gene were institute to be responsible for most cases of polycythemia vera. These mutations are thought to possibly increment the sensitivity of the red blood jail cell precursors to erythropoietin, thereby, increasing red blood cell production.

Primary familial and congenital polycythemia (PFCP)

Primary familial and congenital polycythemia (PFCP) is also thought to be caused by genetic mutations resulting in increased responsiveness to normal levels of erythropoietin. Nigh cases are caused by different mutations to the EPOR factor.

Subscribe to MedicineNet's Full general Health Newsletter

By clicking Submit, I concur to the MedicineNet'south Terms & Conditions & Privacy Policy and sympathise that I may opt out of MedicineNet'south subscriptions at whatsoever fourth dimension.

What causes secondary polycythemia?

Secondary polycythemia is normally caused by increased erythropoietin (EPO) production either in response to chronic hypoxia (low blood oxygen level) or from an erythropoietin secreting tumor.

Chronic hypoxia

Common conditions causing chronic hypoxia are chronic lung diseases such as:

• emphysema and chronic bronchitis which are collectively known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or hypoventilation syndrome,
• chronic heart diseases (congestive heart failure, or abnormal period of blood from the correct side to the left side of the heart),
• sleep apnea, and
• pulmonary hypertension.

Abnormal blood period to the kidneys can be perceived by the kidneys as decreased oxygenation (renal hypoxia), even though, other tissues may have normal oxygenation. Renal hypoxia may promote an increase in erythropoietin production. This condition tin occur after kidney transplantation or narrowing of renal arteries (blood vessels supplying the kidneys).

People living in high altitudes can develop polycythemia. In loftier altitudes, increased ruddy blood jail cell production occurs in gild to compensate for the low ambient oxygen levels and inadequate tissue oxygenation.

Rare congenital defects in the hemoglobin molecule, such every bit two, 3-BPG deficiency, can result in a college oxygen analogousness by hemoglobin. In these weather, oxygen is held on tightly by hemoglobin and is less readily released from hemoglobin to the tissues. The resulting tissue hypoxia from poor oxygen delivery may lead to polycythemia.

Erythropoietin secreting tumors

Certain tumors tin release an increased amount of erythropoietin. The most mutual erythropoietin secreting tumors are:

• liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma),
• kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma),
• adrenal adenoma (adenocarcinomas), and
• uterine (womb) tumors.

Occasionally, benign kidney cysts and kidney obstacle (hydronephrosis) can also secrete extra erythropoietin causing polycythemia.

A rare genetic status, chosen Chuvash polycythemia, causes increased activity of the gene that produces erythropoietin. The overproduction of erythropoietin causes polycythemia.

From

What are stress and smokers polycythemia?

Stress polycythemia is a term applied to a chronic (long-continuing) land of low plasma volume, which is seen commonly in active, hard-working, anxious, middle-aged men. In these people, the ruddy claret cell volume is normal, but the plasma volume is depression. This condition is too known as Gaisbock'south disease, stress erythrocytosis, or pseudopolycythemia.

Smoker's polycythemia is a similar condition in which increased levels of deoxygenated hemoglobin (hemoglobin that does not carry oxygen, instead carrying carbon dioxide) causes an increase in red blood cell counts.

What is relative polycythemia?

In some forms of secondary polycythemia, the hemoglobin or red claret cell count is perceived to be abnormally high due to an increased concentration of blood. This tin happen equally a consequence of plasma book loss from dehydration, severe vomiting or diarrhea, or excessive sweating. Polycythemia in these situations may be called relative polycythemia, because the actual numbers of blood-red claret cells are not abnormal.

Can other sources of erythropoietin (EPO) cause polycythemia?

Erythropoietin (EPO) has been made synthetically for clinical treatment of certain types of anemia. Some professional athletes have used this type of injectable EPO (blood doping) to ameliorate their operation in competitions by producing more hemoglobin and, therefore, improving the commitment of oxygen to their tissues, mainly muscles. This type of doping practice is banned past many professional person sport committees.

What are the risk factors for polycythemia?

Polycythemia risk factors

• Hypoxia from long standing (chronic) lung disease and smoking are mutual causes of polycythemia. Therefore, smoking can be a pregnant risk factor for polycythemia.
• Chronic carbon monoxide (CO) exposure can also exist a risk factor for polycythemia. Hemoglobin has a college analogousness for CO than for oxygen; therefore, every bit it replaces oxygen in favor of CO, polycythemia may ensue to compensate for the low oxygen carried past hemoglobin.
• Chronic carbon monoxide exposure is a risk factor for people working in undercover tunnels or parking garages, cab drivers in highly polluted and congested cities, or workers in factories with exposure to engine exhaust.
• People living at loftier altitudes may also be at risk of developing polycythemia due to low environmental oxygen levels.
• People with genetic mutations and familial types of polycythemia and certain hemoglobin abnormalities also carry risk factors for this status as mentioned in earlier sections.

When should you call a doctor for polycythemia?

In cases of unstoppable bleeding (hemorrhage), astringent breathing difficulty, shortness of breath, or symptoms suggestive of a stroke (weakness on one side or difficulty speaking, for example), seek a prompt evaluation past a physician or make an immediate visit to the emergency room.

People with polycythemia are seen routinely based on the recommendation of the treating dr.. Commonly these patients are seen by their chief care physicians, internists, lung doctors (pulmonologists), or blood specialists (hematology oncology).

What tests confirm the diagnosis of polycythemia?

Polycythemia diagnosis

Polycythemia may exist diagnosed incidentally on routine blood work. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell concentration are typically found on a complete blood count (CBC). Repeating the laboratory tests (blood piece of work) to confirm the diagnosis is unremarkably advised to rule out possible laboratory or drawing errors.

More importantly, the cause of polycythemia needs to be adamant. Medical history and physical test are important components of the evaluation of polycythemia. The history unremarkably includes questions about smoking history, living at loftier altitudes for extended periods, breathing difficulties, sleep disturbances, or chronic cough. Other parts of the history may focus on a prior diagnosis of lung disease, heart disease, kidney or liver cancer, bleeding or clotting problems.

A complete physical examination -- including the assessment of body habitus (stature), vital signs, oxygen saturation, heart and lung exams, and evaluating for an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) -- is essential in the evaluation of people with polycythemia.

Bear witness of a long-standing depression trunk oxygen level (chronic hypoxia) is an important inkling in patients with polycythemia. Signs of long-standing hypoxia may include cyanosis (blueish or purple appearing finger, nail, earlobes, or lips), clubbing of the fingers (elevation of the nail beds outward), or pursed lip breathing. Redness of the palms and soles may be another sign of polycythemia.

A breast Ten-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), and echocardiogram may exist performed to screen for lung disease or heart disease. Hemoglobin analysis may be necessary if weather with high affinity for oxygen or two, three-BPG deficiency are suspected. If carbon monoxide poisoning is in question, a claret test can find its level.

Erythropoietin (EPO) blood levels may also be helpful, although the results need to be interpreted carefully, as the level may be high in response to chronic hypoxia. In polycythemia vera, the EPO levels are depression every bit a response to an increased production of red blood cells. In tumors secreting erythropoietin, the EPO levels may be abnormally high.

Polycythemia vera diagnosis

The diagnosis of polycythemia vera requires special attention. There have been traditional diagnostic criteria for this condition. However, in 2008, the World Wellness Organization (WHO) established the most contempo guidelines. The guidelines include major and minor criteria.

• The major criteria for polycythemia vera include a hemoglobin level of greater than xviii.5 gram / deciliter in men or 16.5 gram / deciliter in women (or similar numbers based on the hematocrit) and the presence of JAK2 mutation.
• The minor criteria include bone marrow evidence of increased cerise claret cell product and decreased EPO levels.

What is the treatment for polycythemia?

• Readers Comments 6
• Share Your Story

Polycythemia handling

The handling for polycythemia is generally dependent on the cause.

In polycythemia vera or other primary polycythemia syndromes, the treatment options are more specific. Phlebotomy (cartoon blood or blood letting) is the almost essential function of the treatment. The recommended hematocrit of less than 45 in men and less than 42 in women is the goal of phlebotomy.

Several medications have been considered in conjunction with phlebotomy to suppress the abnormal production of blood-red blood cells. Most of these chemotherapeutic drugs accept been linked with side effects and their apply has been controversial and limited.

The medication hydroxyurea (Hydrea) has been recommended for some patients with primary polycythemia and higher take a chance of claret clot formation due to high blood viscosity. The factors favoring treatment with hydroxyurea are age greater than lxx, platelet count greater than 1.v million, and general cardiovascular risk factors.

Aspirin and other anti-platelet agents (dipyridamole [Persantine]) may also be benign in patients with polycythemia by reducing clotting complications, unless the patient has a history of bleeding issues.

In patients with secondary polycythemia, the goal is to treat the underlying condition. For example, in patients with lung or center illness with hypoxia, appropriate management of these conditions along with oxygen supplementation is generally advised.

What are the complications of polycythemia?

Potential complications of polycythemia vera are increased levels of circulating scarlet blood cells, which increase the thickness or viscosity of the blood. This can be associated with higher run a risk of thrombus or jell formation leading to strokes, centre attacks, pulmonary embolism, and perhaps death.

Another complication of polycythemia vera is the potential transformation into a blood cancer (leukemia), excessive bleeding (hemorrhage), or clotting problems.

Because of loftier turnover of blood cells in polycythemia, the excretion of the byproducts of ruddy claret cell deposition may overburden the kidneys and result in kidney dysfunction, kidney stones, and gout.

Finally, there is the potential for myelofibrosis (spent marrow), in which scar tissue eventually takes over the blood-forming marrow elements, resulting in anemia from marrow failure.

Complications of secondary polycythemia are typically related to those of the underlying disease. For example, chronic hypoxia from astringent lung affliction may be complicated by correct-sided centre failure and pulmonary hypertension. Chronic heart failure can lead to generalized swelling or edema (anasarca), depression blood pressure, kidney dysfunction, and poor functional status.

In neonatal (infant) polycythemia, increased blood thickness or viscosity can affect several organs due to poor blood flow. Every bit a upshot, kidney dysfunction, intestinal issues, increased blood pressure level in the lungs, and hypoxia may ensue.

What is the life expectancy for polycythemia? Is it fatal?

Polycythemia life expectancy

The outlook on polycythemia depends on the underlying cause. Overall, the general outlook is favorable for people with this condition, specially those with secondary causes. The outlook for principal polycythemia is off-white. While it is typically incurable and long continuing, for many people, it is controllable and treatable. For example, untreated, polycythemia vera (PV) was initially thought to have a poor prognosis with a life expectancy of one to two years from the time of diagnosis. Notwithstanding, polycythemia vera prognosis is now profoundly improved to 10 to 15 years survival after diagnosis with treatment by phlebotomy alone. The addition of medications, such every bit, hydroxyurea or aspirin may improve survival even more.

Can you foreclose polycythemia?

Polycythemia prevention

• Polycythemia due to a secondary cause such as long-standing smoking or exposure to carbon monoxide can exist prevented by omitting these risks.
• Reducing risk factors for heart failure -- such as, controlling high claret force per unit area and diabetes mellitus -- can potentially reduce the run a risk of polycythemia.
• Built and primary polycythemia disorders, withal, are not preventable.

References

Kasper, D.Fifty., et al., eds. Harrison'southward Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.

Ma Ten, Vanasse Thou, Cartmel B, Wang Y, Selinger HA. Prevalence of polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia.Am J Hematol. 2008 May;83(5):359-62. doi: x.1002/ajh.21129. Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Nagalla, Due south. "Polycythemia Vera." Medscape. Updated: June 1, 2018.
<https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/205114-overview>

Nagalla, Due south. "Secondary Polycythemia." Medscape. Updated: Dec. 20, 2018.
<http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/205039-overview>

Spivak, JL, Silver, RT, The revised World Health Organization diagnostic criteria for polycythemia vera, essential thrombocytosis, and chief myelofibrosis: an culling proposal. (2008) 112:231-239.
<http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/112/2/231.full>

martinezlithat.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.medicinenet.com/polycythemia_high_red_blood_cell_count/article.htm

Share this post