Role of serum erythropoietin level in patients with absolute erythrocytosis

Abstract

PRV is a myeloproliferative disorder with an acquired genetic mutation involvingthe stem cell. Erythropoietin (Epo) is a hemopoietic growth factor which providessome guidance to the diagnosis of PRV.The study was done to evaluate the diagnostic significance of erythropoietin levelin PRV and its role in pre and post treated PRVpatients.The study includes (47)patients diagnosed as PRV including (31) males and (16) females with age range (20-77 years). The criteria for diagnosis of polycythemia is PCV > 52% and/ or Hb ≥18.5gm/dl for male and PCV >48%and/ or Hb ≥16.5 gm/dl for female.The investigationswhich were done for all new patients including CBC, blood films and serum Epo, inaddition to the BM examination for new indicated cases of PRV. Follow up of oldPRV (31) patients were done by PCV and serum Epo. We found thatthe mean Epowas 9.82mIU/ml. There was no statistical significant correlation between Epo meanand mean of other parameters.There was a statistical significance between pre andpost treated cases regarding mean PCV and Epo. The acceptible EPO cutoff level todefine PRV of (4.9) with sensitivity (71.4), specificity (86.7) and(p<0.001). So, weconclude that the serum Epo level was a simple reliable test for diagnosis of PRV witha cutoff value of (4.9) andthere was a significant difference between treated anduntreated cases of PRV regarding PCV and Epo.