Elevated Red Cell Count
July 29th, 2019
Overview
Increased circulating red blood cells.
Causes of Erythrocytosis
Primary
- Primary familial erythrocytosis (EPO receptor mutation)
- Polycythaemia vera (JAK2 mutation)
Secondary
- Chronic hypoxia - smoking, chronic lung disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, high altitude
- Renal hypoxia - renal artery stenosis, polycystic kidney disease, post renal transplant
- Drugs - testosterone, anabolic steroids, erythropoietin
- Paraneoplastic syndrome (EPO-producing tumour)
- Congenital - haemoglobinopathies, other mutations
- Idiopathic
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