
PMC:2778502 / 29427-29918
Annnotations
2_test
18. Polycythemia
Polycythemia may be primary (polycythemia vera) or secondary to smoking, chronic hypoxia, certain tumors, or drugs. Drug-induced polycythemia can be seen with excess use of rHuEPO or anabolic steroids. Abuse of both types of agents by athletes may be associated with increased thrombotic risk [84]. Use of diuretics with volume contraction can contribute to pseudopolycythemia, where the hematocrit is elevated from hemoconcentration but true red cell mass is not increased.