Hyperviscosity syndrome

Hyperviscosity syndrome

DiseaseDisorder infobox
Name = Hyperviscosity syndrome
ICD10 =
ICD9 =
ICDO =


Caption =
OMIM =
MedlinePlus =
eMedicineSubj = emerg
eMedicineTopic = 756
DiseasesDB = 20944

Hyperviscosity syndrome is an increase in the viscosity of the blood. This may be caused by an increase in serum proteins and presents with spontaneous bleeding from mucous membranes, retinopathy and other visual disturbances, and neurologic symptoms ranging from headache and vertigo to seizures and coma. It is usually seen with monoclonal gammopathies such as Waldenström macroglobulinemia and in multiple myeloma (particularly IgA and IgG3). Hyperviscosity syndrome can also be seen in polycythemia and acute leukemic blast crises.

Diagnosis

Serum viscosity can be measured. Normal is between 1.4 and 1.8 centipoises but to have symptoms from hyperviscocity, serum viscosity is usually greater than 5 centipoises. Patients will also have evidence of their underlying disorder. Those with myeloma will typically display a rouleaux formation on a peripheral smear and a large globulin gap, indicative of a significant paraprotein load. While viscosity can be directly measured, results can take a few days to return and thus a high index of suspicion is required to make the diagnosis in a timely manner. If hyperviscocity is suspected, treatment may need to be started prior to obtaining the official viscosity level.

Treatment

Plasmapheresis may be used to decrease viscosity in the case of myeloma, whereas leukapheresis or phlebotomy may be employed in a leukemic or polycythemic crisis, respectively. Blood transfusions should be used with caution as they can increase serum viscosity. Hydration is a temporizing measure to employ while preparing pheresis. Even after treatment, the condition will recur unless the underlying disorder is treated.

External links

* - "Hyperviscosity - newborn"
*


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • hyperviscosity syndrome — any of various syndromes associated with increased viscosity of the blood. One type is due to serum hyperviscosity and is characterized by spontaneous bleeding with neurologic and ocular disorders. Another type is characterized by polycythemia… …   Medical dictionary

  • hyperviscosity — hy·per·vis·cos·i·ty vis käs ət ē n, pl ties excessive viscosity (as of the blood) * * * hy·per·vis·cos·i·ty (hi″pər vis kosґĭ te) excessive viscosity, as of the blood; see also hyperviscosity syndrome, under syndrome …   Medical dictionary

  • syndrome — The aggregate of symptoms and signs associated with any morbid process, and constituting together the picture of the disease. SEE ALSO: disease. [G. s., a running together, tumultuous concourse; (in med.) a concurrence of symptoms, fr. syn,… …   Medical dictionary

  • Eisenmenger's syndrome — Eisenmenger syndrome Classification and external resources ICD 10 Q21.8 ICD 9 745.4 (CDC/BPA 745.410) …   Wikipedia

  • Schnitzler syndrome — Infobox Disease Name = PAGENAME Caption = DiseasesDB = 31345 ICD10 = ICD9 = ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = eMedicineSubj = derm eMedicineTopic = 489 MeshID = D019873Schnitzler syndrome is a rare disease characterised by chronic hives (urticaria) and …   Wikipedia

  • Multiple myeloma — Classification and external resources Micrograph of a plasmacytoma, the histologic correlate of multiple myeloma. H E stain ICD …   Wikipedia

  • Waldenström's macroglobulinemia — DiseaseDisorder infobox Name = Waldenström s macroglobulinemia ICD10 = ICD10|C|88|0|c|81 ICDO = ICDO|9761|3 ICD9 = ICD9|273.3 OMIM = 153600 MedlinePlus = 000588 eMedicineSubj = med eMedicineTopic = 2395 DiseasesDB = 14030 MeshID = D008258… …   Wikipedia

  • Plasmapheresis — Pheresis redirects here. It is not to be confused with Phoresis. Plasmapheresis Intervention ICD 10 PCS 6A5 ICD 9 CM …   Wikipedia

  • Amaurosis fugax — Infobox Disease Name = Amaurosis fugax Caption = The arteries of the choroid and iris. The greater part of the sclera has been removed. DiseasesDB = 501 ICD10 = ICD10|G|45|3|g|40 ICD9 = ICD9|362.34 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = 000784 eMedicineSubj …   Wikipedia

  • Jan G. Waldenström — Jan Gösta Waldenström (17 April 1906 1 December 1996) was a Swedish doctor of internal medicine, who first described the disease which bears his name, Waldenström s macroglobulinemia.He was born in Stockholm, and arose from a medical family: his… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”