Wk 1 Polycythemia

Question 1

Too many RBCs increases blood __

Answer 1

viscosity

Question 2

Increased blood viscosity leads to __

Answer 2

hypertension

Question 3

What is relative polycythemia?

Answer 3

An isolated decrease in plasma volume which elevates the hemoglobin, hematocrit, and rbc count

Question 4

Relative polycythemia is relative to the amount of __ in circulation

Answer 4

plasma

Question 5

What are two etiologies of relative polycythemia?

Answer 5

Severe dehydration and smoker’s polycythemia

Question 6

What is a normal hematocrit?

Answer 6

45%

Question 7

What is a low hematocrit?

Answer 7

30%

Question 8

What is a polycythemia hematocrit?

Answer 8

70%

Question 9

What is smoker’s polycythemia?

Answer 9

high plasma red blood cell (RBC) concentration due to increased RBC count and decreased plasma volume, attributable to chronic tobacco smoking

Question 10

If someone stops smoking, will their polycythemia go away?

Answer 10

Yes

Question 11

What is primary polycythemia called?

Answer 11

Polycythemia vera

Question 12

In what age group is polycythemia vera usually seen?

Answer 12

People over the age of 60

Question 13

What is polycythemia vera?

Answer 13

An overproduction of red blood cells

Question 14

What are two causes of polycythemia?

Answer 14

Neoplastic disease

Uncontrolled proliferation

Question 15

What is the pathogenesis of polycythemia vera?

Answer 15

A single stem cell mutates into a cell that overproduces all blood cells

Question 16

What do patients with polycythemia complain of? (4)

Answer 16

Headache
Fatigue
Weight loss
Dyspnea

Question 17

3 clinical manifestations of a patient with polycythemia vera

Answer 17

Hypertension
Clotting problems
Ruddy color

Question 18

Polycythemia vera is considered a __ disease

Answer 18

malignant

Question 19

Polycythemia vera is a precursor to __

Answer 19

leukemia

Question 20

Secondary polycythemia is a compensatory response to __ __

Answer 20

tissue hypoxia

Question 21

Who develops secondary polycythemia?

Answer 21

chronic pulmonary and cardiac problem patients

Question 22

5 risk factors for secondary polycythemia

Answer 22

chronic hypoxia
living at high altitudes 
smoking
genetics
long-term exposure to carbon monoxide

Question 23

What is chronic mountain disease?

Answer 23

When someone who lives at high altitudes develops polycythemia due to the lower oxygen concentration in the air

Question 24

Who might be at risk for long-term exposure to carbon monoxide? (3)

Answer 24

Working in tunnels
High levels of pollutants
Garage attendants

Question 25

5 complications of decreased blood flow

Answer 25

DVT
Hemorrhage
Angina
Cerebral insufficiency 
TIAs

Question 26

What are TIAs?

Answer 26

transient ischemic attacks

Question 27

What is a transient ischemic attack?

Answer 27

Symptoms of a stroke that last for several minutes, but usually does not cause long term damage

Question 28

5 clinical manifestations of polycythemia

Answer 28

increased blood viscosity
increased blood flow
hypermetabolism
high rbc count
high h&h

Question 29

Two symptoms associated with high rbc count and high h&h

Answer 29

Pruritus

Pain in fingers and toes

Question 30

Why does polycythemia lead to hypermetabolism?

Answer 30

Increased energy to move blood throughout body