Polycythemia is a condition where there is an abnormally high volume of red blood cells. It can be caused by excess red blood cells or a decrease in blood plasma volume. Symptoms vary depending on the cause, including itching, joint pain, fatigue, and blood clots. Secondary polycythemia can be caused by hypoxic disease, genetic mutations, or cancers. Chuvash polycythemia is an inherited form. Relative polycythemia is caused by dehydration, burns, or stress.
Polycythemia is a condition in which the volume of red blood cells is abnormally high. It can be due to an excess of red blood cells, in which case it is known as polycythemia absolute, or to a decrease in blood plasma volume, a condition called relative polycythemia. Polycythemia absolute can be further classified as primary, secondary, or Chuvash polycythemia. The symptoms of polycythemia vary depending on the cause of the condition.
In primary polycythemia, also called polycythemia vera, the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells. It can also make too many white blood cells and platelets. The primary symptoms of polycythemia, when they occur, include itching, especially after exposure to hot water, joint pain, headache, fatigue, and an inability to concentrate. Less common symptoms are thrombosis or blood clots, gouty arthritis, ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract, and erythromelalgia, in which excess platelets cause burning and discoloration of the skin on the hands and feet. However, polycythemia vera is often asymptomatic.
Secondary polycythemia is caused by excessive production of erythropoietin, the hormone that controls the production of red blood cells. Secondary polycythemia can be a complication of hypoxic disease, in which blood oxygen levels are low, or of genetic mutations or cancers of the kidney or liver. It can also result from bloodletting or high altitude.
Secondary symptoms of polycythemia caused by high altitude include nausea, vomiting and lack of appetite, fatigue, dizziness, insomnia or drowsiness, tingling sensation, shortness of breath, nosebleed, rapid pulse, and edema or swelling of the hands and feet . In severe cases, edema can affect the lungs or brain. When associated with low oxygen levels caused by lung disease, secondary symptoms of polycythemia include sleep apnea and chronic cough. Polycythemia induced by liver or kidney cancer can present with weight loss, abdominal pain or jaundice, yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes.
Chuvash polycythemia is an inherited form of the disorder. It can cause blood clots and other cardiovascular disorders, especially in old age. Other symptoms are similar to those of polycythemia vera.
Relative polycythemia is often caused by a loss of body fluids due to dehydration, burns, or stress. However, it can also be caused by apparent polycythemia, a condition associated with cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and high blood pressure. A common symptom of relative polycythemia is high blood pressure, and symptoms similar to those of polycythemia vera may also be present.
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