EFFECT OF HYPOXIC GUINEA PIG PLASMA UPON ERYTHROPOIESIS IN THE POLYCYTHEMIC MOUSE AND POLYCYTHEMIC GUINEA PIG

Erythrocytosis associated with multiple cutaneous leiomyomata: report of a case with demonstration of erythropoietic activity in the tumour

A patient with leiomyomata of the skin and erythrocytosis is reported. After surgical removal of the larger skin tumours there was remission of the haematologic abnormalities and the erythrocytosis and the red cell mass decreased to normal levels. The raised serum erythropoietin levels were reduced but remained slightly elevated and less than those recorded prior to surgery. Tumour extracts contained significant erythropoietic activity. This seems to be the first documented case of erythrocytosis associated with skin leiomyomata.

Erythrocytosis due to erythropoietin-producing uterine fibromyoma

Erythrocytosis has been observed to occur infrequently in association with uterine fibromyomas. Study of this case revealed erythrocytosis prior to surgery and a remission was noted after myomectomy. Elevated erythropoietin activity in this patient's serum was demonstrated. The erythropoietin activity in the tumor tissue extract was 10 times higher than in the control tissue extract. We postulate that the tumor itself was responsible for the erythrocytosis observed. The mechanisms proposed to explain polycythemia in such a tumor were revised and our conclusion is that the tumor produced the erythropoietin autonomously and is not subjected to feedback control mechanism.