CASE STUDY: JAK2 V617F NEGATIVE POLYCYTHAEMIA CAUSING PORTAL VENOUS HYPERTENSION WITHOUT EVIDENT PORTAL VEIN THROMBOSIS.

Abstract

Polycythaemia is dened as an increase in the haemoglobin above normal. This increase may be real or only apparent because of a decrease in plasma volume (spurious or relative polycythaemia). Often patients with polycythaemia are detected through an incidental nding of elevated haemoglobin or haematocrit level. Patients with polycythaemia may be asymptomatic or experience symptoms related to the increased red cell mass or the underlying disease process that leads to the increased red cell mass. The dominant symptoms from an increased red cell mass are related to hyper viscosity and thrombosis (both venous and arterial), because the blood viscosity increases logarithmically at haematocrits >55%. We are presenting a case of a patient aged 30 years presenting with fatigue, headaches, dizziness, recurrent multiple joint pain.