polycythemia rubra

polycythemia /poly·cy·the·mia/ (-si-thēm´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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polycythemia ru·bra (rbr)

n.

See erythremia.

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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.