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Ask the Experts about Understanding Your Labs
polycythemia and HIV?
Aug 17, 2008
Hi Dr. Holodniy- I am a medical student who is just starting an HIV case in a problem based learning curriculum. I have been studying for hours and cannot figure out why my patient is showing increased erythrocytes with a concomitant decrease in both hemoglobin and hematocrit. The patient also has a mild thrombocytopenia.I understand that the virus can directly affect the progenitor cells of the erythroid stem line but why would the rbc's increase not decrease? I have read through your site and I want to also tell you that I think you are doing a great service here. Thank you so much for any help you can provide!
Response from Dr. Holodniy
I am not sure what other factors might be in play: acute blood loss, use of epogen, dehydration, living at altitude, other opportunistic infections, concomitant medications, to name a few.
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