secondary polycythaemia

Last reviewed 01/2018

Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein hormone produced by the kidney which exerts a stimulatory effect on marrow stem cells to produce red cells.

Secondary erythrocytosis results from the action of elevated levels of erythropoietin or erythropoietin-like substances on normal marrow stem cells.

Causes of secondary erythrocytosis can be divided into congenital or acquired (1).

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