Secondary Polycythemia

Overview :

Polycythemia means too many red blood cells. The resulting excess of red cells thickens the blood and impedes its passage through small blood vessels.

Secondary polycythemia usually affects people between the ages of 40 and 60.

Types of secondary polycythemia

Known as spurious polycythemia, stress polycythemia, or Gaisbock's syndrome, relative polycythemia is characterized by normal numbers of red blood cells but decreased levels of plasma (the fluid part of the blood). Overweight, middle-aged white men who smoke, have high blood pressure, and are on diuretic medicines to remove excess water from their bodies may develop Gaisbock's syndrome.

In smoker's polycythemia, the number of red blood cells is elevated. Plasma levels are abnormally low.