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A member asked:

How is polycythemia rubra vera differentiated from polycythemia associated with stress? rbc only elevated once in life. hgb/hct elevated often.

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Stress?: Stress doesn't cause polycythemia. Being dehydrated is a common cause. If your Hgb/Hct is only slightly elevated, stop worrying -- reference ranges are set so that several percent of healthy folks fall outside. If it's well above, consider a workup for the causes, including a variant hemoglobin and a subtle right-to-left shunt.

Answered 10/8/2018

3.3k views

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Related Questions

A member asked:

CBC Results [15 55 85lbs] WBC 9.16 RBC 5.22 HGB 15.8 HCT 49.1 PLATELETS 236 MPV 11.8 ANC 6.160 ALC 2.080 NC 67.3 LC 22.7 Swollen painless lymph node under jaw, a bit of blastomycosis in my body (4 months in itraconazole) and stress. Abnormal?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Should I be concerned with elevated RBC of 6.3 RDW of 17 and low mcv of 70,mch low 21.3, and mchc low 30.6. HGB and HCT are in normal range?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

What could it be? Low wbc, rbc, hgb, hct combined with neutropenia. Mcv, MCH and RDW elevated. High ferritin; approx 260. Splenomegaly present.

2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

A member asked:

Labs show elevated absolute monocytes 975. RBCs/HGB/HCT are also slightly elevated. Any ideas? I have sleep apnea and afib but otherwise healthy. I am on Lipitor, Coumadin, beta blocker. Age 71.

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Hello My Hb level is always elevated , but RBC level are normal , Is this polycythemia?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

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