Polycythemia overview

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

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Overview

Polycythemia is a condition in which there is a net increase in the total number of red blood cells in the body. The overproduction of red blood cells may be due to a primary process in the bone marrow (a so-called myeloproliferative syndrome), or it may be a reaction to chronically low oxygen levels or, rarely, a malignancy.

Classification

Based on the reasons, polycythemia is classified into two types; primary and secondary.

Pathophysiology

Polycythemia is a number of symptoms that are caused by the increase of the total number of red blood cells in the body. This makes blood thicker in our blood vessels which may cause some problems. People with polycythemia will have an increase in their hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.

Causes

Polycythemia is caused by the increase of the total number of red blood cells in the body.