Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Abstract

Polycythemia is normally defined as blood disorder which causes an increase in hemoglobin or venous hematocrit above 65%. It occurs either in neonates or in people above 60 years. The hyper viscosity in new born at the age of two hours leads to cardiac arrest because of oxygen impairment. The clinical features of hyper viscosity affects all the organs in the body and this entity should be screened in high risk adults (above 60 yrs) and neonates. The causes for polycythemia may be genetic or physiological and the treatment varies accordingly. This technique, the selective removal of RBCs can provide sometime until the decision about the disease (genetic or physiological) and treatment is made by the physician. This can reduce the risk associated with the conventional methods followed so far and the risk of cardiac arrest in neonates and adults is reduced.
Keywords: Bio-microfilter, Hematocrit, Hyperviscosity, In-vivo, Polycythemia