aetiology
Last reviewed 01/2018
Erythrocytosis may occur secondary to:
- congenital caus
- high oxygen-affinity haemoglobin
- erythropoeitin receptor mediated
- Chuvash erythrocytosis (VHL gene mutation) (1)
- acquired causes
- hypoxia with decreased oxygen saturation:
- decreased atmospheric oxygen e.g. high altitude
- chronic heart disease:
- congenital e.g. pulmonary stenosis, septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus
- acquired e.g. chronic rheumatic mitral disease
- arteriovenous fistula
- impaired pulmonary ventilation:
- alveolar-capillary block e.g. Hamman-Rich syndrome, sarcoidosis, lymphangitic cancer
- alveolar hypoventilation e.g. bronchial asthma
- restriction of pulmonary vascular bed e.g. primary pulmonary hypertension, mitral stenosis, emphysema
- haemoglobins with abnormally high oxygen affinity
- abnormal haemoglobin pigments e.g. methaemoglobinaemia
- increased erythropoietin secretion:
- renal disease:
- hydronephrosis
- renal cysts
- benign tumours
- occurs in up to 5% of renal cell carcinomas
- 10-17% of kidney transplant recipients
- other tumors - e.g. cerebellar haemangioblastoma, uterine fibromyomas
- renal disease:
- increased androgen:
- phaeochromocytoma
- Cushing's syndrome
- masculinizing ovarian tumors e.g. arrhenoblastoma
- androgen abuse by athletes
- hypoxia with decreased oxygen saturation:
Reference:
cyanotic congenital cardiac disease
cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis