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What Causes Elevated RBC's?
Question: What causes elevated RBC's? What is considered too high?
Brief Answer:
THE CAUSES COULD BE PHYSIOLOGICAL OR PATHOLOGICAL
Detailed Answer:
Dear visitor,
Elevated RBC's (often including elevated PCV or Hematocrit values) could be seen in:
1. chronic smokers
2. chronic lung disease/COPD/Hypoxia
3. chronic cold exposure
4.normal in newborns, disease recovery, recovery from blood loss, anemia, etc
5. primary or idiopathic polycythemia vera like genetic diseases : A somatic (non-hereditary) mutation (V617F) in the JAK2 gene is found in 95% of cases!
6. high altitude / Some congenital heart diseases
7. hormonal or malignant diseases (kidney cancers) causing excessive erythropoietin secretion leading to secondary polycythemia
8. dehydration, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, Carbon Monoxide poisoning, sleep apnea, pulmonary fibrosis etc.
etc.
TOO HIGH VALUES DEFINED AS:
1. RBC count> 6.1 millions in males and > 5.4 millions in females (values might differ according to national standards; I'm giving the standard values!)
2. Hematocrit (PCV) > 55% in males and >50% in females
3. Hemoglobin levels greater than 16.5 g/dL (grams per deciliter) in women and greater than 18.5 g/dL in men
Hope you got the answer; anyways, don't hesitate to share with me if any feedback / more questions are there!
Regards,
THE CAUSES COULD BE PHYSIOLOGICAL OR PATHOLOGICAL
Detailed Answer:
Dear visitor,
Elevated RBC's (often including elevated PCV or Hematocrit values) could be seen in:
1. chronic smokers
2. chronic lung disease/COPD/Hypoxia
3. chronic cold exposure
4.normal in newborns, disease recovery, recovery from blood loss, anemia, etc
5. primary or idiopathic polycythemia vera like genetic diseases : A somatic (non-hereditary) mutation (V617F) in the JAK2 gene is found in 95% of cases!
6. high altitude / Some congenital heart diseases
7. hormonal or malignant diseases (kidney cancers) causing excessive erythropoietin secretion leading to secondary polycythemia
8. dehydration, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, Carbon Monoxide poisoning, sleep apnea, pulmonary fibrosis etc.
etc.
TOO HIGH VALUES DEFINED AS:
1. RBC count> 6.1 millions in males and > 5.4 millions in females (values might differ according to national standards; I'm giving the standard values!)
2. Hematocrit (PCV) > 55% in males and >50% in females
3. Hemoglobin levels greater than 16.5 g/dL (grams per deciliter) in women and greater than 18.5 g/dL in men
Hope you got the answer; anyways, don't hesitate to share with me if any feedback / more questions are there!
Regards,
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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