Polycythemia rubra vera is an increase in red blood cell volume, which can be caused by genetic conditions, chronic low oxygen levels, cancers, and tumors. Symptoms include fatigue, headaches, breathing difficulties, and chest pains. Treatment may include therapeutic phlebotomy or fluid replacement. Regular monitoring is necessary for some patients.
Polycythemia rubra vera is an increase in red blood cell volume in proportion to plasma products. This condition can take a number of forms, and the causes range from benign genetic quirks to malignant tumors in the bone marrow. A patient with this medical problem may experience symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, breathing difficulties and chest pains. A quick blood test can determine that the proportion of red blood cells is low and will often provide insight into why.
In absolute polycythemia rubra vera, the patient produces more red blood cells than usual. White blood cells may also be elevated. Patients with the related form of this condition have reduced plasma levels, making it appear as if they have more red blood cells. A doctor may conduct an interview with the patient to determine possible causes and discuss treatments. One potential treatment is therapeutic phlebotomy to remove some of the excess red blood cells and it may be possible to donate them for use in blood transfusions.
Polycythemia rubra absolute can be the result of genetic conditions, adaptations to chronic low oxygen levels, cancers, and tumors. Your doctor may run some tests and look for risk factors such as a lot of time spent at high altitudes, which would suggest that the condition is a benign adaptation, not evidence of malignancy. Athletes who train in mountainous regions, for example, often have polycythemia rubra vera. Your doctor will check the levels of other blood products and ask about symptoms such as bone and joint pain, which could indicate a more serious problem.
The related polycythemia rubra vera is usually the result of a temporary drop in body fluids. People with dehydration can experience this as a symptom, as can burn victims, who often lose a lot of plasma as their bodies recover. Some smokers also experience drops in blood plasma. Treatment usually consists of fluid replacement, taking care to use fluids with adequate salt balance to avoid complications.
For some patients, polycythemia rubra vera is a chronic health problem. They will need regular monitoring and treatment to keep their red blood cells within a safe range. In others, it may be constantly present without posing a threat and it is important to ensure that the condition is noted in patient records. This will avoid situations where new healthcare professionals think that increased red blood cells are a new and troubling symptom in a patient.
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