Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
Secondarypolycythemia, similar toprimary polycythemia vera, is a disorder that causes an overproduction of red blood cells. When too many red blood cells are produced, the blood becomes thick, hindering its passage through the smaller blood vessels.
This article discusses the symptoms and causes of secondary polycythemia in addition to diagnosis and treatment.
What is the difference between primary and secondary polycythemia?The difference between the two is that primary polycythemia starts inside the bone marrow and secondary polycythemia is associated with an underlying condition.
What is the difference between primary and secondary polycythemia?
The difference between the two is that primary polycythemia starts inside the bone marrow and secondary polycythemia is associated with an underlying condition.
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Secondary Polycythemia Symptoms
Symptoms of secondary polycythemia usually develop slowly over many years and are the same as those for primary polycythemia, such as:
What Is the Most Common Cause of Secondary Polycythemia?
The job of a red blood cell is to deliver oxygen to the body tissues. Smoking, for example, interferes with this process, so it is a common cause of secondary polycythemia. Others include:
How Is Secondary Polycythemia Diagnosed?
Measuring oxygen levels in the blood with a blood test known asarterial blood gas (ABG)can help healthcare providers diagnose secondary polycythemia. Other blood tests include measurement of erythropoietin and red blood cell mass levels.
Additional diagnostic tests include:
These tests measure heart function and can detect the enlargement of the heart, liver, or spleen.
Your healthcare provider may also use a genetic test that looks for a mutation in a gene called JAK2 that affects the bone marrow and blood cells. This test is positive in most cases of primary polycythemia and, as a result, is used to differentiate between primary polycythemia and secondary polycythemia.
Treatment for Secondary Polycythemia
Treatment for secondary polycythemia should control or eliminate the underlying condition. Symptom relief may include medications such as antihistamines to relieve itching, or aspirin to soothe pain and burning associated with the disorder.
Because it takes time to treat the underlying condition, healthcare providers sometimes use phlebotomy (blood-letting) to reduce the number of red blood cells in plasma. As much as a pint (475 milliliters) may be taken in one sitting as if tolerated.
Understanding Therapeutic Phlebotomy
Coping With Secondary Polycythemia
If you’re already coping with one condition that can cause secondary polycythemia, such as COPD or a tumor, learning that you have a second diagnosis can feel discouraging or frustrating.
Summary
Secondary polycythemia is associated with an underlying condition and causes an overproduction of red blood cells. Symptoms usually develop gradually and can include headache, weakness, pain, confusion, and more. Treating the underlying condition will also treat and correct polycythemia.
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4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.McMullin MFF, Mead AJ, Sahra A, et al.A guideline for the management of specific situations in polycythaemia vera and secondary erythrocytosis: a British Society for Haematology guideline.Br J Haematol.2019 Jan;184(2):161-75. doi:10.1111/bjh.15647National Organization of Rare Diseases.Polycythemia vera.Haider MZ, Anwer F.Secondary Polycythemia. [Updated 2023 May 8].Assi TB, Baz E.Current applications of therapeutic phlebotomy.Blood Transfus. 2014 Jan;12(Suppl 1):s75-83. doi:10.2450/2013.0299-12
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.McMullin MFF, Mead AJ, Sahra A, et al.A guideline for the management of specific situations in polycythaemia vera and secondary erythrocytosis: a British Society for Haematology guideline.Br J Haematol.2019 Jan;184(2):161-75. doi:10.1111/bjh.15647National Organization of Rare Diseases.Polycythemia vera.Haider MZ, Anwer F.Secondary Polycythemia. [Updated 2023 May 8].Assi TB, Baz E.Current applications of therapeutic phlebotomy.Blood Transfus. 2014 Jan;12(Suppl 1):s75-83. doi:10.2450/2013.0299-12
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
McMullin MFF, Mead AJ, Sahra A, et al.A guideline for the management of specific situations in polycythaemia vera and secondary erythrocytosis: a British Society for Haematology guideline.Br J Haematol.2019 Jan;184(2):161-75. doi:10.1111/bjh.15647National Organization of Rare Diseases.Polycythemia vera.Haider MZ, Anwer F.Secondary Polycythemia. [Updated 2023 May 8].Assi TB, Baz E.Current applications of therapeutic phlebotomy.Blood Transfus. 2014 Jan;12(Suppl 1):s75-83. doi:10.2450/2013.0299-12
McMullin MFF, Mead AJ, Sahra A, et al.A guideline for the management of specific situations in polycythaemia vera and secondary erythrocytosis: a British Society for Haematology guideline.Br J Haematol.2019 Jan;184(2):161-75. doi:10.1111/bjh.15647
National Organization of Rare Diseases.Polycythemia vera.
Haider MZ, Anwer F.Secondary Polycythemia. [Updated 2023 May 8].
Assi TB, Baz E.Current applications of therapeutic phlebotomy.Blood Transfus. 2014 Jan;12(Suppl 1):s75-83. doi:10.2450/2013.0299-12
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