This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Venesection

Authoring team

The polycythaemia caused by COPD may be corrected by venesection. This treatment modality is now only rarely used.

Phlebotomy for secondary polycythaemia (SP) due to hypoxia can be considered in patients with symptomatic hyperviscosity or hematocrit greater than 56% (1)

  • the British Journal of Haematology endorses a Grade B recommendation to reduce hematocrit to 50-52% in selected patients with SP due to hypoxic pulmonary disease, but there is concern that reducing the red cell mass may theoretically worsen tissue hypoxia

Reference:

  • Fuqua J, Reece J, Sofka S. Successful use of phlebotomy to treat severe secondary polycythemia due to chronic lung disease. Hematol Rep. 2021 Jun 9;13(2):8961.

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.