Secondary Polycythemia - Symptom, Causes, Treatment

Secondary Polycythemia is a disorder of the blood-producing cells of the bone marrow that results in overproduction of red blood cells. Secondary polycythemia is an acquired form of a rare disorder characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of mature red cells in the blood. When RBC levels are low, the body's tissues cannot obtain enough oxygen. Secondary Polycythemia should be suspected in patients with elevated hemoglobin or hematocrit levels, splenomegaly, or portal venous thrombosis. Polycythemia vera also may result in production of too many of the other types of cells in your blood white blood cells and platelets. It is associated with several conditions in adulthood, but in children this condition is usually only diagnosed in the newborn. Polycythemia is also called plethora.

Causes of Secondary Polycythemia

Common causes and risk factor's of Secondary Polycythemia include the following :

• Exposure to high altitudes.
• Chronic heart or lung disease.
• Hormonal disorders.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Tumors of the brain, liver, or uterus.
• Kidney cysts.

Symptoms of Secondary Polycythemia

Some of the common sign and symptoms of the disease Secondary Polycythemia follows:

• Blood in the stool.
• Blood clots.
• Painful erythema.
• Warmth in parts of the limbs.
• Blackening of the fingers or toes.
• Fever.
• Heat tolerance.
• Weight loss.

Treatment of Secondary Polycythemia

Find effective treatment methods of treating Secondary Polycythemia :

• In relative polycythemia, the patient must avoid diuretics and drink fluids to replenish the liquid portion of the blood .
• For the treatment of polycythemia vera, see Myeloproliferative Disorders .
• Usually, blood is removed from the body in a procedure called phlebotomy, similar to the way blood is removed when donating blood.

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