INVESTIGATION OF PATIENTS WITH POLYCYTHEMIA

Polycythaemia may complicate or be the presenting feature of a wide va riety of different pathologies. Early diagnosis and treatment of prima ry polycythaemia will significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition. Patients with a raised packed cell vo lume are divided into those with a raised red cell. mass (absolute pol ycythaemia), and those with a red cell mass within their normal range (apparent polycythaemia). A standard investigative approach of an abso lute polycythaemia enables patients with primary and secondary polycyt haemia to be identified, leaving a group termed idiopathic erythrocyto sis. There are a number of physiological situations and pathological e vents associated with idiopathic erythrocytosis and apparent polycytha emia. Careful follow-up of both groups of these patients is essential to identify possible causative mechanisms.