12-19-2008, 04:07 PM
Polycythemia Vera is a disease caused by a genetic mutation in a single hematopoietic stem cell, which then proceeds to grow and divide too much, not only making its mutant genotype more prevalent than the regular genotype, but causing the overproduction of red blood cells and occasionally other blood cell types. Excessive red blood cells can make the blood excessively viscous, resulting in fatigue, headaches and splenomegaly. Patients also are at a higher risk for developing blood clots and having a heart attack or stroke.Edited to add: There's also ebola, which is extremely rare but causes very dramatic deaths; people bleed from every orifice - really horrible.
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