High RBC count

[Sarcophyton-elegans]

A relative (45 yo male) was recently evaluated at an out-of-town hospital while feeling ill on a business trip.  While there it was noted that he had a cardiac arhythmia and a high RBC count.  Can you give me list of conditions/illnesses which may show an elevated RBC count?  He has an appointment with a hemotology/oncology specialist for evaluation, but not until next month.  I am looking for information to help guide him to what questions he may wish to ask while being examined.
Thank you

[Forum-M.D.-DT]

Thank you for your question and for visiting the Family Practice Forum. The condition your relative has is known as "Polycythemia". Polycythemia is a condition characterized by an increase in the production of red blood cells. Polycythemia can be broken down into two categories. (Primary polycytmia and Secondary Polycythemia).

Primary Polycythemia (also called Polycythemia Vera)
The cause for the increased red blood cell production here is an overproduction of red blood cells by the bone marrow. This is a chronic, progressive disease most common in middle-aged men. Here you have an increased number of red blood cells, and overgrowth of these blood cells in the bone marrow and commonly an enlarged spleen.
Symptoms include:
· Headache
· Difficulty concentrating
· Pain in the fingers and toes
There is a danger of the formation of blood clots or hemorrhage
The treatment for polycythemia vera is periodic removal of some blood (phlebotomy) and radiation and/or chemotherapy with anti-metabolyte drugs such as Cytoxan

Secondary Polycythemia (also known as erythrocytosis)
Here the cause for the increased red blood cells is the body’s response for a perceived need for increased red blood cells. Prolonged lack of oxygen at high altitudes, chronic lung problems such as emphysema or cardiac insufficiency or other heart disease are conditions which commonly cause secondary polycythemia. Here, the treatment is directed towards the underlying medical cause for the increased red blood cell production.
Your relative should be asking questions such as 1) what type of polycythemia is this (primary or secondary)? 2) If there is an underlying medical cause for the polycythemia, what is it? and what can be done to treat it? 3)What is the plan to treat this condition? and will this include phlebotomy?
I wish you and your relative well.
Dean M. Tomasello, M.D.

[dsw]

Hi,

I am a 35yo woman who has just had a blood test that shows my RBC is up slightly (16.6??).  Is there any other reasons this would be up other than polycythemia?  Say, just a virus or something simple?

Donna

[PabloNY]

Does your RBC count have anything to do with your ability to excell in sports.  Do African Americans have a normal RBC count or do they have more RBC in there blood, or does your RBC count have nothing to do with your athletic ability.

[PabloNY]

Does your RBC count have anything to do with your ability to excell in sports.  Do African Americans have a normal RBC count or do they have more RBC in there blood, or does your RBC count have nothing to do with your athletic ability.

[PabloNY]

Does your RBC count have anything to do with your ability to excell in sports.  Do African Americans have a normal RBC count or do they have more RBC in there blood, or does your RBC count have nothing to do with your athletic ability.

[tazg]

I am and 18yr old girl, doing a degree in Optometry, and as part of it we have done a prac where we did RBC counts using haemocytometer, mine came out as nearlly 9 million cells per mm cubed.  Is this significantly high enough for me to think of going to the doctors and asking them to repeat the test, or do you think it will just be experimental error?

[larbec7]

Does this mean i will die within 7-15 years.  I have been diagnosed with Polycythemia and I am being treated?



Anyone who has polycythemia vera must receive treatment. Without treatment, the symptoms will become much worse and the risk of death from stroke or heart attack will increase. Without treatment, 50% of people die within 18 months of diagnosis. The reason for this is that the high concentration of blood cells makes the blood so thick that it has greater difficulty flowing through the blood vessels.

With proper treatment, the average survival of people with polycythemia vera is 7 to 15 years. People will probably feel quite normal and their risk of stroke or heart attack will be much less than if they didn't seek treatment. Although there's no cure, most people live for more than 10 years with the disease. Blood clots are the most common cause of death, followed by complications of myeloid metaplasia (a progressive disease of the bone marrow), hemorrhage, and development of acute leukemia.

[bmwbon]

A related discussion, high rbc was started.