Between kidney disease with increased erythropoietin and low altitude, what is a differential diagnosis of polycythemia vera?

One possible differential diagnosis of polycythemia vera in this scenario could be secondary polycythemia. Secondary polycythemia is a condition where the body produces too many red blood cells in response to factors such as chronic hypoxia (low oxygen levels), kidney disease with increased erythropoietin production, or certain tumors that produce erythropoietin. In this case, the increased erythropoietin levels from kidney disease could be causing the excessive production of red blood cells, mimicking the symptoms of polycythemia vera. Additional testing, such as genetic testing or bone marrow biopsy, may be needed to differentiate between polycythemia vera and secondary polycythemia.

- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Congestive heart failure
- Obesity hypoventilation syndrome
- Sleep apnea