When symptoms such as weakness, dizziness, sleeping too much, and tinnitus occur, the first thing that comes to mind is blood deficiency, that is, anemia. However, the same symptoms may also occur in excess blood known as "polycythemia". In this article, we wanted to take a look at polycythemia, which has many causes, from low oxygen levels in the body to cancer.
What is polycythemia?
As a result of excessive production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. The increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood is called polycythemia.
When polycythemia is detected in a person by laboratory tests, the task that needs to be done is to decide whether this polycythemia picture is real or relative. Situations that cause excessive fluid loss in the body (such as vomiting, diarrhea) are among the causes of relative polycythemia. However, in these cases, polycythemia usually does not occur at advanced levels. Polycythemia can be detected by the hematocrit level, which shows the ratio of the shaped elements of the blood in the blood. A hematocrit above 60% in men and 56% in women indicates true polycythemia. In people proven to have true polycythemia, it should be investigated whether it originates from the bone marrow (primary) or is due to other causes (secondary).
What are the causes of polycythemia?
Causes of primary polycythemia (Polycythemia Vera)
It is a disease manifested by the excessive production of red blood cells in the bone marrow, independent of any other cause. In examinations, in addition to the increase in red blood cells, an increase in white blood cells (leukocytes) and an increase in clotting cells (platelets) may be observed. Spleen size can be detected during examination or when an ultrasound is performed. A defect in a gene called JAK2 is held responsible for the development of this disease. Detailed information about the diagnosis and treatment of this disease will be given in the Polycythemia Vera patient booklet.
Secondary (Causes other than excessive production in the bone marrow)
Erythropoietin, which is released from the kidneys due to the decrease in O2 pressure in the blood. Conditions caused by an increase in the number of red blood cells due to constructive hormone: Living at high altitude, some heart and lung diseases and obesity can be counted among these.
Using androgen-containing drugs
Secrete erythropotin hormone various tumors
Familial
After kidney transplantation
Polycythemia What symptoms are observed in the patient?
Headache, dizziness, feeling of fullness in the head, tinnitus and chest (heart) pain may occur due to excessive blood production and impaired blood fluidity. Patients experience itching, especially after a hot bath. There may be joint pain. Vascular occlusion may occur in a significant portion of patients as their tendency to clot increases. In some patients, bleeding from the gums, nose, stomach and skin may occur due to bleeding tendency. Patients have a red face appearance due to the increase in red blood cells. Spleen size and liver size can be detected. High blood pressure is another finding.
Treatment
The basic approach in the treatment of polycythemia is to restore the blood fluidity by bringing the blood level to normal. For this purpose, blood is taken from the patient at regular intervals, just like blood donation, with a method called "phlebotomy". This blood taken cannot be used on anyone else. Blood thinners are given. There are other drugs that can be used in the treatment of polycythemia vera, depending on the patient's risk.
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