How does the body make up for loss of red blood cells?
The body will try to make up for this loss by increasing the red blood cell production in the bone marrow. One of the ways to see this effect is by measuring the amount of immature, young, red blood cells in the circulating blood. These are called “reticulocytes”.
What causes too many red blood cells in the body?
Blood Disorder Causes Body to Make Too Many Red Blood Cells. Treatment of PV focuses on controlling symptoms and decreasing the risk of blood clots or bleeding. Therapies often include a daily dose of aspirin and reducing the amount of red blood cells by periodically drawing blood from a vein (phlebotomy). In some high-risk patients,...
What is the treatment for high red blood cell count?
In this treatment, some of your blood is removed to help keep the number of red blood cells down and lower the risk of blood clots. Treatment may also include a medicine that keeps the bone marrow from making too many red blood cells or to help reduce the risk of blood clots.
What is the function of red blood cells?
Red blood cells are one of the major components of blood, along with white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells help carry oxygen throughout the body.
How do you treat too many red blood cells?
Treatment may include a phlebotomy. In this treatment, some of your blood is removed to help keep the number of red blood cells down and lower the risk of blood clots. Treatment may also include a medicine that keeps the bone marrow from making too many red blood cells or to help reduce the risk of blood clots.
What is the treatment for polycythemia?
The most common treatment for polychythemia vera is having frequent blood withdrawals, using a needle in a vein (phlebotomy). It's the same procedure used for donating blood. This decreases your blood volume and reduces the number of excess blood cells.
Can secondary polycythemia be cured?
Remember that secondary polycythemia is caused by an underlying condition, most of which are well known and have multiple treatment options available. Once the underlying cause is corrected, symptoms of secondary polycythemia usually go away.
What is the life expectancy of someone with polycythemia vera?
Recent studies estimate the average life expectancy after diagnosis with polycythemia vera to be about 20 years. The average age of death is about 77. The most common cause of death is complications from blood clots (about 33%). Advancing cancer is the second most common cause (15%).
Is polycythemia a death sentence?
Is there a cure? There is currently no cure for PV, but the disease is not necessarily a death sentence. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the median life expectancy after diagnosis is 20 years.
Is polycythemia vera a terminal illness?
Without treatment, polycythemia vera can be life-threatening. But proper medical care can help ease signs, symptoms and complications of this disease.
How serious is secondary polycythemia?
If the underlying condition isn't serious, most people with secondary polycythemia can expect a normal lifespan. But if the polycythemia makes the blood extremely viscous, there's an increased risk of stroke. Secondary polycythemia doesn't always require treatment.
Can polycythemia turn into leukemia?
In rare cases, polycythemia vera may eventually progress into a form of leukemia known as acute myeloid leukemia.
What is the difference between polycythemia vera and polycythemia?
Polycythemia, also called erythrocytosis, refers to an increase in red blood cell mass, noted on laboratory evaluation as increased hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Polycythemia vera is a subtype of polycythemia and is associated with the overproduction of all 3 cell lines.
What is the most common cause of death in polycythemia vera?
Of patients with known cause of death (n=175, 72%), thrombotic complications (33.1%) were the most common cause, followed by hematologic malignancy (15.4%), respiratory failure (13.1%), solid tumor (12.0%), infection (10.3%), and bleeding (6.3%). Less common causes of death included organ failure and dementia.
How fast does polycythemia vera progress?
One study shows that anywhere from 2% to 14% of the time, polycythemia vera changes into AML within 10 years. In this disease, stem cells in your bone marrow turn into unhealthy blood cells, including white blood cells called myeloblasts. These cells grow out of control, crowding out healthy blood cells.
Is polycythemia vera always fatal?
Polycythemia vera can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated. It can cause blood clots resulting in a heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism. Liver and spleen enlargement are other possible complications.
What is the disease where the body makes too many red blood cells?
Polycythemia vera ( PV) is a blood disorder in which the body makes too many red blood cells. It's one in a family of diseases called myeloproliferative disorders. In these diseases, bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made — is affected by a type of chronic leukemia that causes it to make more cells than it should. In PV, too many red blood cells are produced, but sometimes it can also result in too many white blood cells or too many platelets (the component of blood that aids in clotting). A considerable amount of research is currently investigating PV and its treatment.
How to reduce red blood cells?
Therapies often include a daily dose of aspirin and reducing the amount of red blood cells by periodically drawing blood from a vein (phlebotomy). In some high-risk patients, medication may be used to decrease the number of red blood cells or to suppress the bone marrow's ability to produce blood cells.
How to treat PV?
Treatment of PV focuses on controlling symptoms and decreasing the risk of blood clots or bleeding. Therapies often include a daily dose of aspirin and reducing the amount of red blood cells by periodically drawing blood from a vein (phlebotomy).
Which meds lower platelets?
The first is hydroxyurea, which can lower the amount of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The second is anagrelide, which lowers only the amount of platelets. A variety of other PV medications are under investigation.
Is PV a long term disease?
Many avenues of investigation into new treatments are under way. The hope is that these therapies will not only help people with this disease feel better in the short term, but also make PV a more manageable disease in the long term.
What is it called when you have too many red blood cells?
This is called polycythemia, or erythrocytosis. 1 There are some technical differences between the two but the two terms are often used interchangeably.
Why is blood work repeated?
The blood work will be repeated to rule out laboratory error. It is important to note normal values vary by age and gender (after puberty) and affect the definition of polycythemia. Other work-up is performed to determine if a cause can be identified.
What causes elevated platelet count and white blood cell count?
Causes. Polycythemia vera: This a rare condition of the bone marrow. 1 Usually, you also have an elevated white blood cell count (leukocytosis) and elevated platelet count (thrombocytosis). This can be caused by a genetic mutation called JAK2.
How do you know if you have polycythemia?
1 . Weakness or dizziness. Fatigue or tiredness. Headaches. Itching, sometimes after a shower or bath. Joint Pain, usually the big toe. Abdominal Pain. Redness of the face.
Why does blood thicken when there are too many red blood cells?
This thickens the blood because now there are more cells in the same amount of liquid (called plasma).
What is the treatment for polycythemia?
Treatment of the underlying condition that is causing the polycythemia. Phlebotomy: Blood is removed from a vein on a regular schedule to prevent complications. The blood is often replaced with normal saline (a fluid given in the vein).
What is the best medication for phlebotomy?
Hydroxyurea: Hydroxyurea, an oral medication, can be used if phlebotomy is not tolerated. Hydroxyurea will reduce all blood counts: white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Interferon-alpha: 1 Interferon-alpha can be used to stimulate your immune system to fight the overproduction of red blood cells.
What is the disease that causes blood to become too thick?
Polycythemia vera (PV) is a rare disease that causes your body to make too many red blood cells. Your blood may become too thick. This causes serious health problems. PV increases the risk of abnormal blood clots, which could lead to a heart attack or stroke.
What causes polycythemia vera?
PV begins in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside bones that makes blood cells. When bone marrow makes too many red blood cells , the result is PV.
How to treat PV?
There is no single treatment for PV. Doctors adjust the treatment for each patient. Treatment may include a phlebotomy. In this treatment, some of your blood is removed to help keep the number of red blood cells down and lower the risk of blood clots. Treatment may also include a medicine that keeps the bone marrow from making too many red blood cells or to help reduce the risk of blood clots. Doctors can also treat the itchy skin and burning pain that you may experience.
How to prevent blood clots?
If your doctor says you can, try to get moderate exercise several times a week . This can keep your blood flowing freely and decrease the risk of blood clots.
Is there a cure for PV?
PV is a serious illness that can cause death, especially if it’s not treated. There is currently no cure for PV. However, there are some lifestyle adjustments that may make your symptoms feel better. If your doctor says you can, try to get moderate exercise several times a week.
Does polycythemia cause tingling?
Symptoms of polycythemia vera. In its early stages, PV usually doesn’t cause any symptoms. As the disease progresses, symptoms include: Shortness of breath. Dizziness. Itchy or flushed skin. Fatigue. Headaches. A tingling or burning sensation in the hands and feet.
What is the name of the disorder in which the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells?
Polycythemia vera (a blood disorder in which the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells)
Why do doctors check for high red blood cells?
Doctors typically find a high red blood cell count during tests for another health issue. You may need more tests to determine what’s causing the higher levels. These may include tests to look for conditions that cause your body to produce too many red blood cells, such as heart failure, or disorders that restrict your oxygen supply, ...
Why is my red blood count high?
A high red blood cell count may be a symptom of a disease or disorder, although it doesn’t always indicate a health problem. Health or lifestyle factors can cause a high red blood cell count. Medical conditions that can cause an increase in red blood cells include: Heart failure, causing low blood oxygen levels.
What is a high red blood cell count?
A high red blood cell count is generally considered to be anything above 6.1 million red blood cells for men, 5.4 million for women, and 5.5 for children. Additional tests will help your doctor determine the cause of your high red blood cell count and next steps in your care.
How does a phlebotomy work?
In a procedure called a phlebotomy, a health professional inserts a needle into your vein and drains blood through a tube into a bag or container. You might need to have this procedure on a repeated basis until your red blood cell level is close to normal.
What are the components of blood?
Red blood cells are one of the major components of blood, along with white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells help carry oxygen throughout the body.
What is the treatment for bone marrow disease?
If you are diagnosed with the bone marrow disease polycythemia vera, your doctor may also prescribe a medicine called hydroxyurea to slow your body’s production of red blood cells. You’ll need to see your doctor regularly while taking hydroxyurea to be sure your red blood cell level does not drop too low.
What is the condition where your body makes too many red blood cells?
Overview. Erythrocytosis is a condition in which your body makes too many red blood cells (RBCs), or erythrocytes. RBCs carry oxygen to your organs and tissues. Having too many of these cells can make your blood thicker than normal and lead to blood clots and other complications. There are two types of erythrocytosis:
Why does my bone marrow produce more RBCs?
It’s caused by a mutation in genes that control how many RBCs your bone marrow makes. When one of these genes is mutated, your bone marrow will produce extra RBCs, even when your body doesn’t need them. Another cause of primary erythrocytosis is polycythemia vera. This disorder makes your bone marrow produce too many RBCs.
How is this diagnosed?
Your doctor will start by asking about your medical history and symptoms. Then they’ll perform a physical exam.
Why does blood become thicker?
Your blood becomes very thick as a result. Secondary erythrocytosis is an increase in RBCs caused by an underlying disease or the use of certain medications. Causes of secondary erythrocytosis include: smoking. a lack of oxygen, such as from lung diseases or being in high altitudes. tumors.
What is the difference between erythrocytosis and polycythemia?
Erythrocytosis is an increase in RBCs relative to the volume of blood. Polycythemia is an increase in both RBC concentration and hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body’s tissues.
What is the primary erythrocytosis?
Primary erythrocytosis. This type is caused by a problem with cells in the bone marrow, where RBCs are produced. Primary erythrocytosis is sometimes inherited.
What medications lower RBC?
Medications that lower RBC production. These include hydroxyurea (Hydrea), busulfan (Myleran), and interferon.
What is the condition where the body has an increased number of RBCs?
Polycythemia, or erythrocytosis, is a condition in which the body has an increased number of RBCs. The extra blood cells can make the blood thicker and lead to difficulties with blood flow, which can increase the risk of other health issues.
Why is blood red?
The human body produces roughly 2 million RBCs every second, and they are the reason for the distinctive red color of blood. They have the important role of carrying oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and returning carbon dioxide for the lungs to exhale.
What are some examples of RBC disorders?
Examples of RBC disorders that involve enzyme deficiencies include glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and pyruvate kinase deficiency.
What is sickle cell anemia?
Sickle cell anemia is a type of sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease creates blood cells that are misshapen and die too early. This causes a shortage of RBCs and may lead to other issues such as the cells having difficulty traveling through the blood vessels.
What is HNHA in blood?
HNHA refers to an inherited type of anemia that causes RBCs to break sooner than normal healthy blood cells do. There are a number of different inherited mutations that may cause changes in the genes that lead to the condition.
What are some examples of cytoskeletal abnormalities?
Health experts may also refer to these conditions as RBC membranopathies. Examples of cytoskeletal abnormalities include hereditary spherocytosis and elliptocytosis.
What is the term for the condition where red blood cells are concave?
Red blood cell disorders refer to conditions that affect either the number or function of red blood cells (RBCs). Also known as erythrocytes, RBCs are concave, disc-shaped cells that move through blood vessels, carrying oxygen throughout the body.
What is the name of the disease in which the body destroys its own blood cells?
When the body fights its own red blood cells. Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) is a blood disease in which a person produces substances that cause their own body to destroy red blood cells (RBCs), resulting in anemia (low hemoglobin).
Where are red blood cells produced in AIHA?
In AIHA, the red blood cells are produced normally in the bone marrow. The problem arises when the body produces an antibody that coats the red blood cells.
Why does the body produce antibodies?
Why the body produces an antibody directed at its own red blood cells is unknown in most cases. It can be associated with certain underlying diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, chronic active hepatitis, or certain immunodeficiency syndromes. The anemia can be a long-standing problem for many.
How to get rid of antibody in spleen?
Another way to get rid of the antibody is to remove it with an intravenous treatment called pheresis (for-e-sis).
What is the substance that coats germs?
Antibodies are substances produced by white blood cells. They are like sticky little sweaters which coat germs or anything else that shouldn’t be in your body. A cell coated with antibodies is also like carrying a little neon sign that tell other white blood cells “ Here’s the enemy, now get it! ”.
What happens if your hemoglobin is low?
If the hemoglobin is low for any reason, the result is anemia. ...
What organs are responsible for destroying antibodies?
The two major blood filtering organs in the body are the liver and spleen. These are the places the antibody coated cells are recognized as foreign and destroyed. When the antibody is destroyed, so is the red blood cell. This results in anemia. The body will try to make up for this loss by increasing the red blood cell production in the bone marrow.
Treatment
Overview
- Polycythemia vera (PV) is a blood disorder in which the body makes too many red blood cells. It's one in a family of diseases called myeloproliferative disorders. In these diseases, bone marrow the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made is affected by a type of chronic leukemia that causes it to make more cells than it should. In P...
Causes
- Exactly why PV develops is still unclear. But researchers know more about the cause of the disease now than in the past. In 2005, researchers found that a change (mutation) in a gene that affects the protein JAK2 appears to play a role in PV development. JAK2 is one in a series of on/off switches that control when cells grow and divide. In PV, this on/off switch is stuck in the …
Signs and symptoms
- In its early stages, PV may not cause symptoms. Due to the excess red blood cells, though, some people may eventually develop skin itchiness and redness, headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, and numbness, tingling, burning or weakness in their hands, feet, arms or legs. Because PV causes blood to thicken and slow, it can also increase the risk of developing blood clots, whi…
Prognosis
- Over the long term, PV may progress to myelofibrosis, a disorder that involves scarring in the bone marrow, disruption of the production of blood cells, and can lead to enlargement of the spleen and liver. PV can also progress to acute leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Overall, the future is bright for people with PV. Much more is known about this disease now than just a few y…
Research
- A variety of other PV medications are under investigation. Recent research has shown that a long-acting form of the drug interferon, called pegylated interferon 2 alpha, may be a promising new drug for PV treatment. This drug can help lower blood cell counts, but recent studies suggest it may also lower the levels of the abnormal JAK2 protein in blood. Several large clinical research t…
The Problem of Too Many Red Blood Cells
Symptoms of Polycythemia
- The symptoms of polycythemia are vague and some people do not have any symptoms and are diagnosed after routine laboratory work.1 1. Weakness or dizziness 2. Fatigue or tiredness 3. Headaches 4. Itching, sometimes after a shower or bath 5. Joint Pain, usually the big toe 6. Abdominal Pain 7. Redness of the face
Diagnosis
- Polycythemia is identified by complete blood count. The red blood cell count(labeled RBC), hemoglobin, and/or hematocrit is elevated. The blood work will be repeated to rule out laboratory error. It is important to note normal values vary by age and gender (after puberty) and affect the definition of polycythemia. Other work-up is performed to dete...
Causes
- Polycythemia vera: This a rare condition of the bone marrow.1 Usually, you also have an elevated white blood cell count (leukocytosis) and elevated platelet count (thrombocytosis). This can be cau...
- Familial: These are inherited conditions where the body produces more red blood cells than expected. Conditions that cause low oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxia), like:Chronic obstru…
- Polycythemia vera: This a rare condition of the bone marrow.1 Usually, you also have an elevated white blood cell count (leukocytosis) and elevated platelet count (thrombocytosis). This can be cau...
- Familial: These are inherited conditions where the body produces more red blood cells than expected. Conditions that cause low oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxia), like:Chronic obstructive pulmona...
- Heart disease
- Sleep apnea
Treatment
- Observation: If asymptomatic, your healthcare provider may just observe you
- Treatment of the underlying condition that is causing the polycythemia
- Phlebotomy: Blood is removed from a vein on a regular schedule to prevent complications. The blood is often replaced with normal saline (a fluid given in the vein).
- Hydroxyurea: Hydroxyurea, an oral medication, can be used if phlebotomy is not tolerated. Hy…
- Observation: If asymptomatic, your healthcare provider may just observe you
- Treatment of the underlying condition that is causing the polycythemia
- Phlebotomy: Blood is removed from a vein on a regular schedule to prevent complications. The blood is often replaced with normal saline (a fluid given in the vein).
- Hydroxyurea: Hydroxyurea, an oral medication, can be used if phlebotomy is not tolerated. Hydroxyurea will reduce all blood counts: white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.