alleryStart learning →What is the primary drawback of polycythemia?
AIncreased viscosity strains the heart
BReduced oxygen binding by hemoglobin
CLoss of iron stores from the liver
DFalling plasma protein concentration
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Increased viscosity strains the heart
1. Polycythemia is an overproduction of red cells, detected as an elevated hematocrit.
2. More cells do not mean poorer oxygen delivery, so the problem is not a delivery failure.
3. The problem is the increased viscosity of the blood, which makes it harder for the heart to circulate.
4. This is why polycythemia vera raises blood pressure and why blood doping to a hematocrit of 70 or greater has proved fatal.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 18 "The Cardiovascular System: Blood", section 18.3 Erythrocytes_
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