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  4. Polycythemia refers to an abnormal increase in the number of

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Q. Polycythemia refers to an abnormal increase in the number of

NTA AbhyasNTA Abhyas 2020

Solution:

Polycythemia is a medical condition in which the proportion of blood volume occupied by the red blood cells increases. It may increase either due to the rise in the number of RBCs or decrease in the volume of the plasma. The increase in the RBCs number is measured by the hematocrit. The increase in the number of RBCs can be caused by excessive production of erythrocytes in the bone marrow due to the rare blood cancer and exposure to chronically low oxygen levels. Erythrocytosis refers only to the abnormal increases in the number of RBCs in the blood. In contrast, polycythemia is the proportional increase of RBCs concerning the total blood volume, which includes erythrocytosis.