ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband was diagnosed with secondary polycythemia in 2011. His hematocrit test (HCT) was 57%. He was referred to a hematologist. The hematologist would order a phlebotomy when his HCT was high. My husband decided to go to a Veterans Affairs health care center for his care to save money.

He saw a nurse practitioner at the VA. She said the new guidelines for treating secondary polycythemia that is not genetic is to go by symptoms, not numbers. She refused to order phlebotomies unless he was having dizzy spells or headaches. His HCT was 54.3%. He never had dizziness or headaches when his HCT was high.

He returned to his hematologist, who ordered him to have phlebotomies. His blood kept clotting during the phlebotomy. Are there new guidelines to go by the symptoms and not the numbers? Can this be dangerous? -- P.G.

ANSWER: Primary polycythemia, also called polycythemia vera or polycythemia rubra vera, is a type of blood cancer that causes the bone marrow to make too many red blood cells. Secondary polycythemia means that it isn't a blood cancer that's causing too many red cells; instead it's some other identifiable cause. Low blood oxygen is the most common one I see by far, which can be due to lung disease, sleep apnea, or high altitudes among other less-common causes.

Secondary polycythemia can also be caused by tumors that produce the growth factor erythropoietin. There are a handful of other causes like rare genetic mutations, endocrine tumors, and abnormal blood vessels in the brain. When the cause can be identified, it is treated as much as possible. Aspirin is often recommended to reduce the risk of blood clotting.

The nurse practitioner at the VA was correct that a phlebotomy (literally bloodletting; the removal of about half a unit of blood, up to a full unit) has not been shown to help people who do not have symptoms with secondary polycythemia.

Furthermore, if the HCT (the proportion of blood that is comprised of red blood cells) goes below 55%, many people with secondary polycythemia will get the sensation of shortness of breath or fatigue. For this reason, symptoms (which can also include itching all over especially after a bath or a shower, vision changes, and feeling full too early) are the main drivers for a phlebotomy.

Since the main risk at these high levels of HCT is abnormal blood clots (in the deep veins of the legs and pelvis or the veins to the lungs, for example), aspirin is a more important intervention than bloodletting.

DEAR DR. ROACH: Do omega-3 fatty acids thin your blood, and can you still take them while taking one low-dose aspirin a day? -- S.S.

ANSWER: Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, are taken by many people, usually to help prevent heart disease. Although these were strongly recommended a few years ago by many, the most recent data have shown that they are effective at preventing heart attack and stroke in people with existing heart disease and those who also have diabetes and elevated triglyceride levels. For people in the general population, there is no consistent, significant benefit at preventing heart disease or stroke.

Omega-3 fatty acids do inhibit the action of platelets in a similar fashion to aspirin. However, this effect is small and does not lead to increased bleeding. For people who are prescribed aspirin, foods containing high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids (such as salmon or flaxseed) are safe, and omega-3 fatty acid supplements are not likely to be dangerous.

Still, it's probably best to discuss them with your doctor in case you have additional risks that I don't know about.

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Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

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