Characteristics of patients with secondary erythrocytosis in relation to patients with polycythemia vera

Introduction: Erythrocytosis represents elevated hemoglobin and hematocrit levels above the range of normal values. Primary erythrocytosis - polycythemia vera, is characterized by increased erythrocyte production, due to a disorder at the level of the multipotent stem cell in the bone marrow. On the other hand, secondary erythrocytosis (SE) is the result of bone marrow stimulation by an external factor. Aim: The aim of our study was to determine parameters which are significant in differentiating SE from primary erythrocytosis - polycythemia vera (PV). Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study involving 108 patients with SE and 111 patients with PV, who were diagnosed and treated at the Clinic of Hematology of the Clinical Center of Serbia (CCS), in the period: December 2005 - November 2018.From the patient records, the following data were extracted: demographic characteristics, laboratory parameters, spleen size, total red cell mass, serum erythropoietin (EPO) level, and spontaneous growth of the BFU-E colony. Results: Patients with SE were younger, with a predominance of the male gender and with significantly higher serum EPO values than patients with PV. Patients with PV had significantly higher values of BFU-E, leukocyte and platelet count, spleen size, and LDH level than patients with SE. Total red cell mass analysis did not show a differential diagnostic significance. Conclusion: Findings of normal spleen size, normal leukocyte and platelet count, normal serum LDH level, and elevated EPO, in patients, refer to the diagnosis of secondary erythrocytosis, while the findings of splenomegaly, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, elevated serum LDH level, decreased EPO, and the presence of spontaneous BFU-E colony speak in favor of the diagnosis of polycythemia vera.

AN AYURVEDIC APPROACH FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF IDIOPATHIC ERYTH-ROCYTOSIS - A CASE REPORT

An erythrocytosis occurs when there is an increased red-cell mass. The causes of erythrocytosis are divided into primary, when there is an intrinsic defect in the erythroid cell, and secondary, when the cause is ex-trinsic to the erythroid cell. An idiopathic erythrocytosis occurs when the increased red-cell mass has no identifiable cause. Primary and secondary defects can be further classified as either congenital or acquired causes. According to Ayurveda classics IE can be correlated as Rakta Pradoshaja Vikara due to Kapha Dushti leading to increased Picchilatwa (hyper viscosity) in Rakta. The present case study deals with chronic case of IE to stop the persistent increase of red blood cells mass & viscosity of blood. In this case, an effort was made to treat 38 years old male patient presenting with headache, pain in heel, weakness, in-creased RBC mass, increased Hemoglobin % with hyper viscosity in blood, was advised a regular medical-ly prescription of phlebotomy every 8th week since 3yrs.This patients was treated with Shuddh Tamra Bhasma, Panchakola Choorna, Dashamoola Madhudak, Tab. Liv-52DS orally in BD Dose with Ushna Jala as Anupana. for a duration of 3months. During the treatment it was observed that patient showed much improvement in his symptoms, reports yielded Hb% & HCT (measure of hyper viscosity) maintained under normal limits.

Parathyroid Adenoma as a Rare Cause of Persistent Hypercalcemia in a Female with Polycythemia Vera

Polycythemia vera is one of the myeloproliferative neoplasms that is distinguished by the uncontrolled production of blood cells and an increased red cell mass due to acquired JAK2 mutation. It has many complications and it might increase the risk of other tumors. However, it does not cause hypercalcemia and is rarely associated with parathyroid adenoma. Here, we report on a 64-year-old female with polycythemia vera found to have hypercalcemia due to parathyroid adenoma.

Regulation of erythropoiesis after normoxic return from chronic sustained and intermittent hypoxia

Hypoxia increases erythropoiesis mediated by hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIF), which regulate erythropoietin transcription. Neocytolysis is a physiological mechanism that corrects polycythemia from chronic sustained hypoxemia by transient, preferential destruction of young RBCs after normoxia is restored. We showed that neocytolysis is caused by excessive mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species in reticulocytes mediated by downregulation of HIF-controlled BNIP3L regulated mitophagy and a decrease in RBC antioxidant catalase (CAT) in hypoxia-produced erythrocytes. Decreased CAT results from hypoxia-induced miR-21 that downregulates CAT. This correlates with a transient acute decrease of HIF-1 at normoxic return that is associated with normalization of red cell mass.