PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Sylvia W. Davies AU - Eveline Glynne-Jones AU - E. Patricia Lewis TI - Red face and reduced plasma volume AID - 10.1136/jcp.27.2.109 DP - 1974 Feb 01 TA - Journal of Clinical Pathology PG - 109--112 VI - 27 IP - 2 4099 - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/27/2/109.short 4100 - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/27/2/109.full SO - J Clin Pathol1974 Feb 01; 27 AB - Twenty-five patients who were suspected clinically of having either polycythaemia rubra vera or secondary polycythaemia had no haematological abnormalities apart from a reduction in the plasma volume. Twenty-one were hypertensive. The plasma volume was lowest in those who were receiving treatment with diuretic agents, antihypertensive drugs, or steroid therapy. These cases demonstrate the need for blood volume studies in patients with high values for the blood haemoglobin and the packed cell volume in order to establish a differential diagnosis from myeloproliferative disorder or secondary polycythaemia.