Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] My Aunt has polycythemia secondary (non-vera) I m trying to help her find out more information about it. The doctor s don t seem to know much of what causes it. She is having a pint of blood drawn every other month when her count is over 18. However, now they want her number 12 and under. Her numbers this last year have been between 15.8 and 19.3
[|AI|]  Hello. Thanks for asking on Chat Doctor. Polycythemia is persistent increased RBC and hence increased hemoglobin levels in the blood. It could be primary i.e. Vera or secondary to certain causes. Polycythemia Vera has low erythropoietin levels and on cytogenetics Jak2 mutation is found. In secondary Polycythemia underlying causes may be those causing chronic hypoxia which increase erythropoietin production like sleep apnea, obesity hypo ventilation syn Chat Doctor.  EPO secreting tumors like hepatocellular CA, renal cell CA, a