Polycythemia

Polycythemia
The presence of too many red blood cells. Polycythemia formally exists when the hemoglobin, red blood cell (RBC) count and total RBC volume are both above normal. For example, the percentage of red blood cells in whole blood (hematocrit) in polycythemia is significantly above 52 percent in men and above 48 percent in females. The normal hematocrit range is from about 42 to 52 percent in males, and 37 to 48 percent in females. The opposite of anemia.
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An increase above the normal in the number of red cells in the blood. SYN: erythrocythemia. [poly- + G. kytos, cell, + haima, blood]
- compensatory p. a secondary p. resulting from anoxia, e.g., in congenital heart disease, pulmonary emphysema, or prolonged residence at a high altitude.
- p. hypertonica p. associated with hypertension, but without splenomegaly. SYN: Gaisböck syndrome.
- relative p. a relative increase in the number of red blood cells as a result of loss of the fluid portion of the blood.
- p. rubra SYN: p. vera.
- p. rubra vera SYN: p. vera.
- p. vera a chronic form of p. of unknown cause; characterized by bone marrow hyperplasia, an increase in blood volume as well as in the number of red cells, redness or cyanosis of the skin, and splenomegaly. SYN: erythremia, Osler disease, Osler-Vaquez disease, p. rubra vera, p. rubra, Vaquez disease.

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poly·cy·the·mia or chiefly Brit poly·cy·thae·mia -(.)sī-'thē-mē-ə n a condition marked by an abnormal increase in the number of circulating red blood cells esp POLYCYTHEMIA VERA compare erythrocytosis

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poly·cy·the·mia (pol″e-si-theґme-ə) [poly- + cyt- + hem- + -ia] an increase in the total red cell mass of the blood, characterized as either absolute p. or relative p. Called also erythrocythemia, hypercythemia, and hypererythrocythemia.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • polycythemia — [päl΄i sī thē′mē ə] n. [ POLY + CYT(O) + HEMIA] an abnormal increase in the number and concentration of circulating red blood corpuscles …   English World dictionary

  • polycythemia — noun Etymology: New Latin, from poly + cyt + hemia Date: circa 1857 a condition marked by an abnormal increase in the number of circulating red blood cells; specifically polycythemia vera • polycythemic adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • polycythemia — Increase in the haemoglobin content of the blood, either because of a reduction in plasma volume or an increase in red cell numbers. The latter may be a result of abnormal proliferation of red cell precursors (polycythemia vera, Vaquez Osler… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • polycythemia vera — polycythemia ve·ra vir ə n chronic polycythemia that is a myeloproliferative disorder of unknown cause characterized by an increase in total blood volume and viscosity and typically accompanied by nosebleed, headache, dizziness, weakness, itchy… …   Medical dictionary

  • polycythemia rubra — vera p. vera …   Medical dictionary

  • Polycythemia vera — Primary polycythemia, often called polycythemia vera (PCV), polycythemia rubra vera (PRV), or erythremia, occurs when excess red blood cells are produced as a result of an abnormality of the bone marrow. Often, excess non lymphoid white blood… …   Wikipedia

  • polycythemia vera — noun Etymology: New Latin, true polycythemia Date: circa 1925 polycythemia of unknown cause that is characterized by increase in total blood volume and accompanied by nosebleed, distension of the circulatory vessels, and enlargement of the spleen …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • polycythemia vera — n. erythremia, polycythemia characterized by overproduction of red blood cells as a result of bone marrow disease (accompanied by nosebleed, swelling of the circulatory vessels and enlargement of the spleen) …   English contemporary dictionary

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