
Erythrocytosis is a relative or absolute increase in the number of circulating RBCs, resulting in a PCV increased above reference intervals. Polycythemia is frequently used synonymously with erythrocytosis; however, polycythemia may imply leukocytosis and thrombocytosis, in addition to erythrocytosis.
Relative Erythrocytosis in Animals
Relative erythrocytosis is an increase in RBC numbers without an increase in total RBC mass. Usually, this is caused by loss of plasma volume with resultant hemoconcentration, as seen in severe dehydration attributable to vomiting and diarrhea. Alternatively, a mild, transient form of relative erythrocytosis unassociated with clinical signs may develop in dogs and horses when fear or excitement causes splenic contraction with release of RBCs into the circulation.
Absolute Erythrocytosis in Animals
Absolute erythrocytosis, defined as increased RBC numbers because of increased RBC mass, develops from primary or secondary causes.
Primary erythrocytosis (polycythemia vera) is a myeloproliferative disease resulting from the autonomous clonal expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells that has been reported in dogs, cats, horses, and ferrets. RBC production is dramatically increased, whereas serum erythropoietin (EPO) activity typically is low or low-normal.
Secondary erythrocytosis, in contrast, generally develops from excessive production of EPO. If EPO is secreted because of systemic hypoxia, then the resultant erythrocytosis is an appropriate compensatory response. This may be seen with severe pulmonary disease or heart anomalies resulting in right-to-left shunting with blood bypassing the lungs (eg, reversed patent ductus arteriosus, tetralogy of Fallot). If EPO production increases without systemic hypoxia, then the response is physiologically inappropriate. EPO-secreting tumors of the kidneys or other organs, or non-neoplastic renal disorders resulting in local hypoxia with EPO production, may cause inappropriate erythrocytosis.
Another type of secondary erythrocytosis, called endocrinopathy-associated erythrocytosis, results from hormones other than EPO (eg, cortisol, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone) that stimulate erythropoiesis. The mild erythrocytosis in dogs with adrenocortical hyperactivity or in cats with hyperthyroidism or acromegaly is insufficient to cause clinical signs.
Clinical Findings of Erythrocytosis and Polycythemia
Clinical signs of absolute erythrocytosis include:
red mucous membranes
bleeding tendencies
polyuria
polydipsia
neurologic disturbances (ataxia, weakness, seizures, blindness, behavioral change)
On retinal examination, dilated, tortuous vessels may be visualized. These collective clinical features are attributed to hyperviscosity from the increased RBC mass. The hyperviscosity slows blood flow and may increase the likelihood of thrombosis and rupture of small blood vessels.
Diagnosis of Erythrocytosis and Polycythemia
The dehydration and hemoconcentration of relative erythrocytosis may be identified by clinical findings (dry mucous membranes, loss of skin turgor), laboratory variables (hyperproteinemia, prerenal azotemia), and response to rehydration. Excitable dogs with mild erythrocytosis attributed to splenic contraction usually have normal PCV on subsequent blood samples collected less stressfully. Sighthounds (eg, Greyhounds) normally have mild erythrocytosis compared with standard canine reference intervals.
With absolute erythrocytosis, serum EPO determinations have been recommended to differentiate primary from secondary causes. Unfortunately, considerable overlap exists in EPO activity among healthy animals, animals with primary erythrocytosis, and animals with secondary erythrocytosis. Furthermore, current availability of validated EPO assays for companion animals is limited. Routine examination of bone marrow is not useful to distinguish primary from secondary erythrocytosis because both conditions show erythroid hyperplasia. As a result, primary erythrocytosis usually is diagnosed by eliminating secondary causes.
To investigate types of secondary erythrocytosis, assessment of tissue oxygenation may be helpful. Arterial blood pO2 < 80 mmHg and pulse oximetry oxygen saturation < 90%–95% are consistent with the hypoxemia and tissue hypoxia of appropriate secondary erythrocytosis. Examination of heart and lungs by auscultation, radiographs, electrocardiography, and echocardiography may reveal the underlying problem. Selective angiography or contrast echoaortography may be needed to confirm right-to-left cardiac shunting. If systemic hypoxia is not present, then locating the potential source of inappropriate EPO production is facilitated by physical and neurologic examinations, abdominal ultrasonography, IV urography, and CT or MRI.
Treatment of Erythrocytosis and Polycythemia
For relative erythrocytosis due to dehydration, therapy consists of rehydration with IV fluids and treating the underlying cause.
For primary erythrocytosis (polycythemia vera), treatment initially consists of phlebotomy (10–20 mL/kg to reduce the PCV to ∼50%–60%) with simultaneous fluid replacement. Periodic phlebotomy with or without extra-label administration of hydroxyurea (30 mg/kg/day, PO, for 7–10 days, then 15 mg/kg/day, PO, titrated to lowest effective dose/frequency) has been advocated in affected dogs and cats. RBC, WBC, and platelet counts should be monitored during hydroxyurea treatment.
For inappropriate secondary erythrocytosis, EPO-secreting tumors should be managed with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Phlebotomy to normalize the PCV helps reduce hyperviscosity.
For appropriate secondary erythrocytosis, the underlying problem should be addressed. If corrective treatment of that disease process is not feasible, clinical signs associated with hyperviscosity may be alleviated by judicious phlebotomy (5–10 mL/kg) and hydroxyurea therapy. However, because this type of erythrocytosis is a compensatory response to hypoxia, the PCV should be maintained at values above normal reference intervals.
Key Points
Erythrocytosis can be classified into relative (dehydration, splenic contraction) and absolute (primary or secondary) causes. Secondary erythrocytosis results from physiologically appropriate (certain cardiac and pulmonary disorders) and inappropriate (EPO-secreting tumors of the kidneys or other organs, or some non-neoplastic renal conditions) reasons.
Primary erythrocytosis (polycythemia vera) results from the autonomous clonal proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells that require little to no EPO.
Clinical signs of primary erythrocytosis are attributed to increased blood viscosity and include neurologic disturbances, bleeding tendencies, polyuria, and polydipsia.
Primary erythrocytosis is usually diagnosed by excluding secondary causes, and it is typically treated by phlebotomy and hydroxyurea.
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