What is polycythemia?
Disease description:
Previously, the physical condition had always been good. Recently, dark red discoloration has appeared on areas such as the nasal tip, lips, earlobes, and oral mucosa. After visiting the hospital for examination, I was diagnosed with polycythemia. What are the causes of this disease?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
Polycythemia, also known as erythrocytosis, is a disease characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells in the body.
Its main symptoms include facial flushing, headache, dizziness, insomnia, and it progresses slowly. Polycythemia is classified into two types: true polycythemia (polycythemia vera) and secondary erythrocytosis. True polycythemia commonly occurs in middle-aged and older adults and may be related to abnormal proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells; secondary erythrocytosis, on the other hand, manifests as a symptom of another underlying disease.
Polycythemia may lead to increased blood viscosity, raising the risk of thrombosis and infarction, and can even progress to acute leukemia. Treatment for polycythemia typically involves reducing blood volume and red blood cell mass, as well as suppressing bone marrow hematopoietic function.
