Polycythaemia
How polycythaemia is diagnosed
Source: NHS
In this topic (8)
Polycythaemiacan bediagnosed by carrying out a blood test to check:
- the number of red blood cells in your blood ( red blood cell count )
- the amount of space the red blood cells take up in the blood (haematocrit level)
A high concentration of red blood cells suggests you have polycythaemia.
Your GP may have ordereda blood test because you reported some of the above symptoms or complications, but polycythaemia is sometimes only discovered during a routine blood test for another reason.
Your GP may refer you to a haematologist (a specialist in conditions affecting the blood) for more tests, to confirm the diagnosis and to determine the underlying cause.
These may includea blood test to look for the faulty JAK2 gene and an ultrasound scan of your abdomen to look for problems in your kidneys.
Articles for Polycythaemia
How polycythaemia is diagnosed
Polycythaemiacan bediagnosed by carrying out a blood test to check: the number of red blood cells in your blood ( red blood cell count ) the amount of space the red blood cells take up in the blood
Information about you
If you havepolycythaemia, your clinical team will pass information about you on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS). This helps scientists look for bet
Introduction
Read about polycythaemia, or erythrocytosis, which means having a high concentration of red blood cells in your blood.
Symptoms of polycythaemia
Mild cases of polycythaemia may not cause any problems, butsome people with polycythaemia can experience: Headaches blurred vision red skin particularly in the face, hands and feet tiredness
Treating and preventing other conditions
Some people may alsoneed treatment for any other symptoms or complications of polycythaemiathey have, or for any underlying cause of the condition. For example, you may be givenmedication to help rel
Treating polycythaemia
Treatment forpolycythaemia aims to prevent symptoms and complications (such as blood clots), and treat any underlying causes. Some of the main treatments used are described below. Venesection Venes
What causes polycythaemia?
Polycythaemia can be divided into several differenttypes, depending on the underlying cause of the condition. In some cases,an underlying cause can't be identified. Apparentpolycythaemia "Apparent p
When to seek immediate medical advice
Theslow blood flow associated with polycythaemia can also cause blood clots . These can be seriousbecause theymay put you at risk of life-threatening problems such as: heart attacks pulmonary em
