Erythrocytosis in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be accompanied by compensatory secondary erythrocytosis. However, the exact prevalence of secondary erythrocytosis in COPD is unknown. Although diagnostic criteria for polycythemia vera versus secondary erythrocytosis are mutually exclusive, we describe here the coexistence of polycythemia vera and COPD in the same patient. (C) 1998, Ferrata Storti Foundation.