polycythaemia

Question 1

polycythaemia rubra vera

Answer 1

primary polycythaemia
myeloproliferative disorder causes by clonal proliferation of marrow stem cell leading to an increase in red cell volume and overproduction in neutrophils and platelets

Question 2

relative causes of polycythaemia

Answer 2

dehydration
stress: gaisbock syndrome

Question 3

secondary causes of polycythaemia

Answer 3

COPD
altitude
obstructive sleep apnoea
excessive erythropoietin

Question 4

mutation seen in polycythaemia vera

Answer 4

JAK2 mutation

Question 5

features of polycythaemia vera

Answer 5

pruritus typically after hot bath
splenomegaly
hypertension
hyperviscosity: thrombosis
haemorrhage
low ESR

Question 6

investigations in polycythaemia vera

Answer 6

FBC
JAK2 mutation
serum ferritin
renal and liver function tests

Question 7

management of polycythaemia vera

Answer 7

aspirin
venesection
chemotherapy: hydroxyurea, phosphorus-32 therapy