Polycythemia: Causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

1
POLYCYTHEMIA

• CAUSES SYMPTOMS DIAGNOSIS TREATMENTS

2
WHAT IS POLYCYTHEMIA

• Polycythemia is a blood disorder in which the
  body produces too many blood cells as a result of
  a problem with the bone marrow or an increased
  production of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO).
• Polycythemia is defined as an increase in the
  hemoglobin above normal.
• Often patients with polycythemia are detected
  through an incidental finding of elevated
  hemoglobin or hematocrit levels.
• Concern that the hemoglobin level may be
  abnormally high is usually triggered at 170 g/L
  for men and 150 g/L for women. Hematrocrit levels
  gt50 in men or gt45 in women may be normal.

3
CAUSES OF POLYCYTHEMIA

• The most common cause of Polycythemia is genetic.
  The patient of Polycythemia may have inherited a
  gene called, JAK2, the function of this gene is
  to keep the production of red blood cells and
  other blood cells under control.  However, the
  exact cause of Polycythemia is not known. Here
  are some of the common conditions that may
  increase the chance of Polycythemia 

4
CONTINUE- CAUSES OF POLYCYTHEMIA

• Heart failure 
• Lack of blood flow in the kidneys 
• Hypertension 
• Sleep apnea 
• Pulmonary disease
• Placental insufficiency during pregnancy
• PIH
• Congenital hypothyroidism
• Maternal smoking
• Post date Newborn
• Maternal diabetes

5
SYMPTOMS OF POLYCYTHEMIA

• The symptoms of Polycythemia can be easily
  treated if, detected early. No proper treatment
  of Polycythemia in it early stage can lead to
  fatal complications in future. Symptoms of
  early Polycythemia
• Weakness 
• Weight loss 
• Headache 
• Swelling in joints 
• Dizziness 
• Itchiness

6
SYMPTOMS OF POLYCYTHEMIA

• Symptoms of Polycythemia if left untreated in
  early stage
• Heart attack
• Stroke 
• Deep vein thrombosis 
• Loss of blood supply to brain 
• Internal bleeding

7
DIAGNOSIS OF POLYCYTHEMIA

• The most common method of diagnosing Polycythemia
  is a blood test. A doctor may refer a blood test
  known as CBC (Complete Blood Count).
• A complete blood test is performed by taking
  blood samples from the patients vein. The
  complete blood test (CBC) evaluates the amount of
  red blood cells, white blood cells and blood
  platelets.
• Bone marrow biopsy is a procedure in which a
  sample of bone marrow generally taken from the
  back of your hipbone is observed under medical
  supervision.

8
TREATMENTS OF POLYCYTHEMIA

• Phlebotomy- In this procedure the excess blood in
  the patients body is removed from their vein, to
  make present blood less thick so it can flow
  better. 
• The specialised treatment of Polycythemia
  involves using, Hydroxyurea and interferon alpha.
  These medicines, suppresses the risk of blood
  clots by reducing the excessive production of red
  blood cells. However, the patients of thyroid
  and mental disorders are, advised not to take
  interferon alpha.

9
CONNECT WITH US

• Logon to
• www.lazoi.com
• Like us on facebook
• https//www.facebook.com/LazoiTheLife
• Follow us on Twitter
• https//twitter.com/lazoithelife Follow us on
  Pinterest
• https//in.pinterest.com/lazoithelife/