A 53-year-old man presents with inability to concentrate, itching in his fingers and toes, elevated blood pressure, and unexplained weight loss. He is diagnosed with primary polycythemia. What will be the primary goal of his treatment?
A) To control his hypertension
B) To increase the amount of oxygen distributed by his red blood cells
C) To reduce the mean size of his red cells
D) To reduce the viscosity of his blood

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

While hypertension may accompany polycythemia vera, the primary goal of treatment is to control the increase in blood viscosity that accompanies the disease. Polycythemia vera is not associated with increased corpuscular volume, and oxygen distribution is not a priority problem.

A 53-Year-Old Man Presents with Inability to Concentrate, Itching in His