Pathologie-biologie
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By definition, idiopathic erythrocytosis (IE) applies to a group of patients characterised by having a measured RCM above their predicted normal range (an absolute erythrocytosis) and following investigation do not have a form of primary or secondary erythrocytosis. Patients with IE are heterogenous. The possibilities include physiological variation, 'early' polycythaemia vera (10-15% develop clear features of PV over a few years), unrecognized congenital erythrocytosis, unrecognized or unrecognizable secondary acquired erythrocytosis or a currently undescribed form of primary or secondary erythrocytosis. ⋯ Venesection is the treatment of choice to lower the PCV. As a general approach to management, all patients with a PCV above 0.54 should be venesected to a PCV less than 0.45. This target PCV should also apply to patients with lesser degrees of raised PCV who have additional other risk factors for vascular occlusion.