Serum erythropoietin values in erythrocytoses and in primary thrombocythaemia.

Serum erythropoietin (Epo) values were estimated in samples from 125 patients with erythrocytosis to examine the specificity and sensitivity of reduced and raised values in the diagnosis of polycythaemia vera (PV) and secondary erythrocytosis (SE) respectively. Additionally, Epo values were estimated in samples from 49 patients with primary thrombocythaemia (PT) to determine whether Epo values were altered. We found high specificity (92%) and moderate sensitivity (64%) of low serum Epo values (below the reference range) in the diagnosis of PV, and also poor sensitivity (47%) of raised Epo values in the diagnosis of SE.

A Polycythemia Vera Updated: Diagnosis, Pathobiology, and Treatment.

This review focuses on polycythemia vera (PV)-its diagnosis, cellular and genetic pathology, and management. In Section I, Dr. Pearson, with Drs.

Idiopathic erythrocytosis, diagnosis and clinical management.

By definition, idiopathic erythrocytosis (IE) applies to a group of patients characterised by having a measured RCM above their predicted normal range (an absolute erythrocytosis) and following investigation do not have a form of primary or secondary erythrocytosis. Patients with IE are heterogenous. The possibilities include physiological variation, 'early' polycythaemia vera (10-15% develop clear features of PV over a few years), unrecognized congenital erythrocytosis, unrecognized or unrecognizable secondary acquired erythrocytosis or a currently undescribed form of primary or secondary erythrocytosis.

The classification and diagnostic criteria of the erythrocytoses (polycythaemias).

The term 'erythrocytosis' has advantages over 'polycythaemia' to describe patients with a raised haematocrit (PCV) and deserves to be more widely used. Measurement of red cell mass (RCM) and its relation to that expected for an individual's height and weight permits initial subdivision of erythrocytosis into absolute (increased RCM) or apparent normal RCM. Absolute erythrocytosis may be primary (intrinsically abnormal marrow erythropoiesis) or secondary (increased erythropoietin drive in response to pathological events outside the bone marrow).