Polycythemia vera and idiopathic eryhrocytosis: comparison of clinical and laboratory parameters

To evaluate the various clinical and laboratory parameters of Polycythemia vera and idiopathic erythrocytosis in order to differentiate between two entities at the Aga Khan University Hospital. Twenty six patients of polycythemia vera and 34 patients of idiopathic erythrocytosis were analyzed with respect to clinical features and laboratory findings. Patients with idiopathic erythrocytosis were males with a mean age of 41 years and no splenomegaly. Patients with polycythemia were older males and females with splenomegaly, red cell count of mor than 6.5 million/cmm, haematocrit 55%, leucocytosis, thrombocytosis and low erythropoietin level. Based on the above-mentioned findings, we suggest that polycythemia vera and idiopathic erythrocytosis are separate entities and the diagnosis of these can be made on the basis of clinical and laboratory parameters

Hematocrit in thrombotic stroke at Ramathibodi Hospital.

A hospital-based study of the relationship between the hematocrit and thrombotic stroke was carried out among 117 patients admitted to Ramathibodi hospital. There was no significant difference in the age of patients with and without CT scan. Six patients, three males and one female with CT scan and one male and one female who did not have CT scan were found to have polycythemia vera. Ten patients had relative polycythemia (five had CT scan and five without CT scan). The mean age of patients with PV and relative polycythemia was not significantly different from those without polycythemia. The mean Hct in those with PV and relative polycythemia was generally higher than those without polycythemia. We recommended that Hct should be determined in every thrombotic stroke and a high Hct should be further studied for evidence of polycythemia vera or relative polycythemia.