Secondary polycythaemia associated with large cell lymphoma.

We describe the case of a 53-year-old woman in whom early stage large cell lymphoma appears to be associated with secondary erythrocytosis. A haemogram obtained six months earlier had been normal, but at the time lymphoma was diagnosed, investigations showed haemoglobin 20.5 gm/dl, total red cell count 6 X 10(12)/liter, haematocrit 0.60 liters/liter, whole blood volume 81.1 ml/kg, red cell volume 43.2 ml/kg, and plasma volume 37.8 ml/kg. Other investigations revealed no evidence of any other myeloproliferative disorder, and common causes of tissue hypoxia and other well-known causes of secondary polycythaemia were excluded. Combination chemotherapy employed to treat lymphoma reverted the abnormal blood counts to normal. We believe this to be the first described case of an association of lymphoma and secondary polycythaemia.