Polycythemia (redirected from Secondary polycythaemia)

polycythemia /poly·cy·the·mia/ (-si-them´e-ah) an increase in the total cell mass of the blood.

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absolute polycythemia  an increase in red cell mass caused by increased erythropoiesis, which may occur as a compensatory physiologic response to tissue hypoxia or as the principal manifestation of polycythemia vera.

hypertonic polycythemia  stress p.

relative polycythemia  a decrease in plasma volume without change in red blood cell mass so that the erythrocytes become more concentrated (elevated hematocrit), which may be an acute transient or a chronic condition.

polycythemia ru´bra  p. vera.

secondary polycythemia  any absolute increase in the total red cell mass other than polycythemia vera, occurring as a physiologic response to tissue hypoxia.

stress polycythemia  chronic relative polycythemia usually affecting white, middle-aged, mildly obese males who are active, anxiety-prone, and hypertensive.

polycythemia ve´ra  a myeloproliferative disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by abnormal proliferation of all hematopoietic bone marrow elements and an absolute increase in red cell mass and total blood volume, associated frequently with splenomegaly, leukocytosis, and thrombocythemia.

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pol·y·cy·the·mi·a (pl-s-thm-)

n.

A condition characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood. Also called erythrocythemia, hypercythemia, hypererythrocythemia, hyperglobulia.

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Polycythemia

A condition characterized by an overabundance of red blood cells.

Mentioned in: Hypercoagulation Disorders

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polycythemia (pol´ēsīthē´mē),

n an increase in blood volume as a result of an increase in the number of red blood cells, the erythrocytes. It may result from a blood-forming disease that increases cell production, or it may be a physiologic response to an increased need for oxygenation in high altitudes, cardiac disease, or respiratory disorders.

polycythemia, phlebotomy for,

n the drawing of blood to check for an overabundance of red blood cells.

polycythemia, primary,

n See erythremia.

polycythemia, relative,

n an overabundance of red blood cells due to plasma loss.

polycythemia rubra,

n See erythremia.

polycythemia, secondary,

n See erythrocytosis.

polycythemia vera,

n See erythremia.

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polycythemia

an increase in the circulating red blood cell mass.

There are two distinct forms:

Primary polycythemia is a myeloproliferative disorder of unknown etiology. It occurs as an inherited defect in cattle and is a rare disease in dogs and cats. There is hyperplasia of the cell-forming tissues of the bone marrow, with resultant elevation of the erythrocyte count and hemoglobin level, and an increase in the number of leukocytes and platelets. Called also polycythemia vera.

Secondary polycythemia is a physiological condition resulting from a decreased oxygen supply to the tissues, caused by living at high altitudes, heart disease, circulatory insufficiency or severe pulmonary disease, or the production of erythropoietin or erythropoietin-like compounds, as in polycystic kidney disease, hydronephrosis or renal neoplasms.

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absolute polycythemia

an increase in total hemoglobin and red cell mass with a normal plasma volume. May be a primary or secondary polycythemia.

compensatory polycythemia

a secondary polycythemia, occurring in response to impairment of oxygenation.

familial polycythemia

occurs as an autosomal recessive trait in Jersey cattle. See primary polycythemia (above).

inherited polycythemia

an inherited defect of cattle. Clinically there is dyspnea.

relative polycythemia

apparent polycythemia resulting from loss of plasma and the hemoconcentration that follows. Called also spurious polycythemia.

polycythemia vera

see primary polycythemia (above).