Is it possible to have low erythropoietin count and high RBC count together?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your hemogram and erythropoietinlevels are normal. I would not evaluate you any further. They should not have asked for a hematology consultation, but if it is mandatory, get it done.

All the best and do well in your new job.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

There are only two conditions where there ispolycythemia with low erythropoietin level. They are:

1. Polycythemia vera. This is a mild cancerous condition, diagnosis of which can be confirmed by testing for JAK2 gene mutation and bone marrow examination. In this condition, the platelet count and WBC counts are also generally high, and the spleen size is increased.
2. Congenital or familial polycythemia is a rare condition where there is a mutation in the erythropoietin receptor.

If your hemoglobin level were more than 16.5 g/dl, I would have asked you to do JAK2 mutation testing (V617F and exon 12). But, it is normal. Erythropoietin levels also, if it is outside the normal range, we need to worry about it.

Polycythemia can be due to sleep apnea, but in that case, erythropoietin level is high.

Please take it out of your head that your RBC count is high and EPO level is low. They are in the normal range.

You can do a hemogram six months later to ensure that the hemoglobin is in the normal range. If it is polycythemia, Hb level will increase by that time.

I hope you are convinced with the answer.