primary polycythemia definition of primary polycythemia in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

polycythemia (pŏl'ēsīthē`mēə), condition characterized by an increase in the production of red blood cells, or erythrocytes, in the blood. Primary polycythemia, also called erythremia, or polycythemia vera, is a chronic, progressive disease, most common in middle-aged men. It is characterized by overgrowth of the bone marrow, abnormally increased red blood cell production, and an enlarged spleen. Symptoms, include headache, inability to concentrate, and pain in the fingers and toes. There is a danger of blood clotting or hemorrhage (see thrombosis thrombosis , obstruction of an artery or vein by a blood clot (thrombus). Arterial thrombosis is generally more serious because the supply of oxygen and nutrition to an area of the body is halted.
..... Click the link for more information. ). Primary polycythemia is treated by radiation, periodic removal of some blood (phlebotomy), or chemotherapy with antimetabolite drugs, e.g., Cytoxan Cytoxan , trade name for the drug cyclophosphamide, used to inhibit growth of tumors and rapidly proliferating cells. It is used in the treatment of leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and lymphosarcoma and other solid tumors.
..... Click the link for more information. . In secondary polycythemia, or erythrocytosis, the proliferation of red blood cells results from the body's attempt to compensate for other conditions, such as prolonged lack of oxygen at high altitudes or chronic lung or heart insufficiency. Certain tumors are also associated with increased red blood cell production. In secondary polycythemia the treatment is directed toward the underlying cause.

polycythemia [‚päl·i‚sī′thē·mē·ə]

(medicine)

A condition characterized by an increased number of erythrocytes in the circulation.

Polycythemia

an increase in the total quantity of blood in the human body. A distinction is made between polycythemia vera, in which the increase in erythrocytes, up to 8–10 million in 1cu mm of blood, is greater than the increase in the total volume of blood plasma, and hypervolemia, which is characterized chiefly by an increase in the volume of plasma. The latter may be of cardiac origin or may be due to water retention in the vascular system after copious drinking. The normal ratio of the volume of blood cells to that of plasma is 45:55.

Polycythemia

an increase in the number of erythrocytes in the blood. Spurious, or relative, polycythemia results from a reduction in the volume of blood plasma and is caused by loss of fluid, as from heavy perspiration or from diarrhea. Secondary polycythemia is characterized by an absolute increase in the number of erythrocytes, as with oxygen deficiency in the mountains, heart disease, or pulmonary emphysema. Secondary polycythemia accompanied by an increase in the volume of blood plasma is called polycythemia vera, or erythremia.

Mentioned in	?		Encyclopedia browser	?		Full browser	?
No references found			primary knocked-on atom Primary Komsomol Organization primary lateral sclerosis primary lead primary lesion primary light source primary lights primary low primary magma primary management domain primary measuring element primary member primary meristem Primary Metal primary mineral primary optic axis primary orogeny primary partition Primary Party Organization primary phase primary phase region primary phloem primary photocurrent primary plasticizer primary pollutant primary polycythemia primary porosity primary power cable primary producer Primary Production primary radar primary radiation primary rainbow Primary Rate Interface primary reference fuel primary refrigerant primary register primary relay primary reserve primary rocks primary root primary scattering Primary School primary sedimentary structure primary service area primary sewage sludge Primary Sex Characters primary skip zone primary standard primary storage primary stratification			primary photosensitization primary photosensitization primary phototoxicity primary physician Primary Physician Group Primary Pigmented Nodular Adrenocortical Disease Primary Pigmented Nodular Adrenocortical Disease Primary pigments Primary pinna Primary Place of Business Primary Place of Usage primary planet Primary planets Primary Plant Control Primary Plant Instrumentation Primary Plasma Condenser primary plasticizer Primary Plate Analyzer Primary Plugging Temperature Indicator primary pneumonic plague Primary Point Primary Point Code Primary Point of Contact Primary Point of Escalation Primary Policy Database primary pollutant primary polycythemia primary polydipsia primary polydipsia primary polydipsia primary porosity Primary Position Upbeat Nystagmus Primary Posterior Continuous Curvilinear Capsulorhexis Primary Postoperative Peptic Esophageal Stricture primary power cable Primary Power Distribution Primary Power Interface Primary Power Source/Supply Primary Power System Primary powers Primary Practice Opportunities of Virginia Primary Pressure Primary prevention Primary prevention Primary prevention Primary prevention primary process primary process Primary Process Group primary process thinking primary process thinking primary process thinking primary process thinking primary processes primary processes Primary producer Primary Product Server

Polycythemia (redirected from primary polycythemia)

Polycythemia
(redirected from primary polycythemia)