Home > Encyclopedia of Medicine > Secondary Polycythemia

Definition

Secondary polycythemia is an acquired form of a rare disorder characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of mature red cells in the blood.

Secondary polycythemia is also called secondary erythrocytosis.

Description

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...