A 45-year-old patient visits his physician for a routine examination to address his hypertension.The patient has prominent splenomegaly and rosy cheeks.He is also a smoker.Lab values are: EPO: elevated
WBC count: 18.4 × 10⁹/L4
RBC: 6.84 × 10¹²/L
PLT: 705 × 10⁹/L
Based on these findings,what would you expect to find in the bone marrow?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The elevated EPO and the increased RBC count along with the prominent splenomegaly and rosy cheeks suggest the diagnosis of polycythemia vera (PV). In PV, there is autonomous erythropoietin production leading to erythroid hyperplasia in the bone marrow. This is supported by the elevated RBC count and the high platelet count, which are often seen in this condition. Myeloid hypoplasia, erythroid hypoplasia, and panmyelosis are not typically seen in PV.

A 45-Year-Old Patient Visits His Physician for a Routine Examination