Eisenmenger Disease: Masquerading as Primary Polycythemia
Abstract
Polycythemia is defined as the abnormal elevation in haemoglobin in blood either through reduction of plasma volume or increase in the red cell number.
Primary polycythemia or polycythemia vera (PV) is a genetically mediated myeloproliferative disorder while secondary polycythemia is seen in heavy smokers, chronic pulmonary disease, and cyanotic congenital heart disease. It is important to clinically distinguish patients with primary polycythemia from those with secondary causes. Secondary erythrocytosis is a physiological response to tissue hypoxia in which there are an increased number of circulating red blood cells, an improved oxygen carrying capacity, and an enhanced blood viscosity. This adaptation results in sufficient tissue oxygenation at a higher blood viscosity and Hematocrit.[1][2][3]
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