Polycythemia

Virginia C. Broudy, MD

University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA

This case was reviewed and updated in October 2010 by Dr. Eric Kraut and members of the Teaching Cases Study.

Copyright of the American Society of Hematology, 2006. ISSN: 1931-6860.

I. HISTORY

Patient Presentation

A 72-year-old man presents for evaluation of polycythemia. Polycythemia is defined as an increase in the number of circulating red blood cells per volume of blood, an increase in the concentration of hemoglobin, or an increase in the Hct.

His Hct is 60%. The repeat Hct value is 61%. The normal range is 38-50%.

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