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Logo of bmjcrInstructions for authorsCurrent ToCBMJ Case Reports
 
BMJ Case Rep. 2010; 2010: bcr11.2009.2443.
Published online 2010 May 26. doi:  10.1136/bcr.11.2009.2443
PMCID: PMC3047493
Reminder of important clinical lesson
Rapidly developing myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome: a case report
Jyothi Padavala,1 Amin Abdelmagied,1 and Simon Emery2
1Royal Gwent Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cardiff Road, Newport, NP20 4EZ, UK
2Singleton Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Swansea, SA2 8QA, UK
Correspondence to Jyothi Padavala, jyothi142krishna/at/yahoo.co.in
Abstract
Myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome is polycythaemia associated with uterine leiomyoma, a rare condition known for over five decades with unclear aetiology. The present case is a 51-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with urinary retention and anaemia secondary to multiple uterine fibroids and menorrhagia 5 years following uterine artery embolisation. She opted for abdominal hysterectomy but preoperatively was found to be polycythaemic with haemoglobin of 23 g% and raised serum erythropoietin requiring serial venesections. At a year postoperatively she maintains normal haemoglobin and serum erythropoietin levels. Ectopic production of erythropoietin by fibroids is the most favoured aetiopathogenesis in this case. However, the rapid transition from anaemia to polycythaemia in 5 months is a striking feature as fibroid-linked polycythaemia has so far been reported on presentation. Vigilance is crucial in excluding polycythaemia while such patients are on waiting list as there is a risk of thromboembolism, which is further increased by surgery.
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