What are the levels for polycythemia?

What are the levels for polycythemia?

What Is Polycythemia (High Red Blood Cell Count)?

• Polycythemia is an increased number of red blood cells in the blood.
• Hemoglobin levels greater than 16.5 g/dL (grams per deciliter) in women and greater than 18.5 g/dL in men suggest polycythemia.

Does polycythemia cause high hematocrit?

At extreme levels of secondary polycythemia, patients can be at risk for thrombosis. Excessive polycythemia, usually defined as hematocrit levels higher than 65-70%, may result in increased whole blood viscosity.

What is relative polycythemia?

Relative polycythemia is an elevated hematocrit marked with a normal to high normal RBC mass and low normal to decreased plasma volume.[15] In spite of the absence of true erythrocytosis, patients with relative polycythemia are at a higher risk for thromboembolic complications.[1]

What labs are elevated with polycythemia?

If you have polycythemia vera, blood tests might reveal:

• More red blood cells than normal and, sometimes, an increase in platelets or white blood cells.
• A greater percentage of red blood cells that make up total blood volume (hematocrit measurement)

How high is too high for hematocrit?

The definition of normal red-blood cell percentage also varies from one medical practice to another. Generally, a normal range is considered to be: For men, 38.3 to 48.6 percent. For women, 35.5 to 44.9 percent.

What is considered high hematocrit?

The average healthy adult should have a normal hematocrit level that ranges between 35% to 50%. A normal hematocrit level for women is 36.1% to 44.3%. For men, a normal range is 40.7% to 50.3%.

What is an example of relative polycythemia?

A specific type of relative polycythemia is Gaisböck syndrome. In this syndrome, primarily occurring in obese men, hypertension causes a reduction in plasma volume, resulting in (amongst other changes) a relative increase in red blood cell count.

What is the difference between absolute and relative polycythemia?

In relative polycythemia, the RBC count is not truly increased, but the PCV is elevated because there is less fluid (plasma) in the blood, which makes the relative amount of RBCs appear to be high. Absolute polycythemia occurs when more RBCs are produced than normal and their count is truly elevated.

What is a high hematocrit?

A higher than normal hematocrit can indicate: Dehydration. A disorder, such as polycythemia vera, that causes your body to produce too many red blood cells. Lung or heart disease.

What is the expected hematocrit level in a woman with polycythemia?

Most patients being evaluated for polycythemia vera (PV) are incidentally discovered to have an increased hematocrit (>48% in women and >52% in men, respectively) and/or hemoglobin (>15 g/dL in women and >17 g/dL in men, respectively).

What does a hematocrit of 60 mean?

A hematocrit of less than 15% can result in cardiac failure. A hematocrit of over 60% may result in spontaneous blood clotting.

What is the normal range for hematocrit levels?

Normal hematocrit levels vary based on age and race.. In adults, normal levels for men range from 41%-50%. For women, the normal range is slightly lower: 36%-44%. A hematocrit level below the normal range, meaning the person has too few red blood cells, is called anemia.

When should I be concerned about a high hematocrit?

How is relative polycythemia diagnosed?

Measuring oxygen levels in the blood with a blood test known as arterial blood gas (ABG) can help healthcare providers formulate a diagnose of secondary polycythemia. Other blood tests include measurement of erythropoietin and red blood cell mass levels.

How can you tell the difference between polycythemia and polycythemia vera?

Polycythemia, also called erythrocytosis, refers to an increase in red blood cell mass, noted on laboratory evaluation as increased hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Polycythemia vera is a subtype of polycythemia and is associated with the overproduction of all 3 cell lines.