Erythrocytosis secondary to hypoxemia in chronic lung diseases: From rheology to clinical practice

Abstract

Erythrocytosis is a rare condition in chronic lung diseases associated to hipoxemia. It’s proper clinical and pathophysiological approach is not very well known. Although erythrocytosis is a compensatory response against hypoxemia, its effects on microcirculation may affect cardiovascular parameters with symptomatic disrepair in patients with this disease. Correction of erythrocytosis through phlebotomy may be a useful therapeutic approach, but there is no clearness about its indication considering the current evidence available; likewise, there are concerns about adverse outcomes that could be generated with its use in rheology and ferrokinetics. It is also unknown the relevance of phlebotomy with regard to the apparent benign prognosis of patients presenting with erythrocytosis in chronic lung diseases. With the scarce current information it is necessary to expand the research on issues related to erythrocytosis due hypoxemia.