Polycythemia vera and idiopathic erythrocytosis: comparison of clinical and laboratory parameters.

OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: Twenty six patients of polycythemia vera and 34 patients of idiopathic erythrocytosis were analyzed with respect to clinical features and laboratory findings. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.