Does a high red blood cell count with shortness of breath increase the risk of polycythemia vera?

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Hello doctor! In the last few days, he had trouble breathing, went to the clinic, his heart and lungs were normal, but his blood test showed that the red blood cell count was 6.94 higher than normal. The doctor recommended going to a major hospital for an alpha electrophoresis to make sure it was polycythemia vera. Please ask the doctor, with a high red blood cell count and difficulty breathing, is there a risk of polycythemia vera? Right now, I only have difficulty breathing and have no other symptoms. Looking forward to the doctor's reply
Pham Van Son (1997)
Reply
Hello! An increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood is only a suggestion, not a criterion used to diagnose polycythemia vera. There are two types of polycythemia vera: primary and secondary polycythemia. In which, the primary form is a dangerous form related to malignant myeloid proliferation, which manifests as an increase in the number of all 3 blood cell lines, in which red blood cells increase the most.
Criteria for diagnosis in which important tests are measured Hb (hemoglobin), Erythropoietin levels, JAK2, CALR, LNK mutant genes. As for secondary polycythemia vera, it is very common, usually there is only an increase in the number of red blood cells, but the other two cell lines, leukocytes and platelets, are usually normal, not increased. Common after cases causing lack of oxygen supply to tissues such as: smoking (because in cigarette smoke there is CO, CO2 interferes with oxygen absorption), cardiopulmonary disease (reduced oxygen supply), living in mountainous areas Erythropoietin (a substance that stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells), dehydration that causes the blood to thicken (diarrhea, burns, diuretic use, dehydration through sweat). .)... In these cases, only the main cause needs to be treated, the red blood cells will return to normal.
Shortness of breath is also a common symptom in polycythemia vera. However, shortness of breath can also be seen in many other conditions. To talk about high or low risk of polycythemia vera, based on the number of red blood cells, it is difficult to determine, it must be examined and meticulously examined to confirm. You should go to a big hospital with modern equipment to be able to check you out like a hospital under Vinmec Health System.
Thank you for trusting and sharing the question "High red blood cell count with difficulty breathing, risk of polycythemia vera?" to Vinmec. I wish you good health always.

Answered by Specialist Doctor I Tran Quoc Vinh - Emergency Doctor - Resuscitation Department - Emergency - Vinmec Nha Trang International Hospital