Haematology
Case 17: A Patient with Headache and Blurred Vision
CASE
A 58‐year‐old accountant presents to A&E with a headache and blurred vision. Over the last few months he has also been feeling very tired and run down, and has lost 12 kg in weight. He is a non‐smoker and drinks only occasional glasses of wine with a meal. On examination, he is noted to have a left hemiplegia and fundoscopy shows early papilloedema. Cardiovascular, respiratory and abdominal examination are all normal. Oxygen saturations were 97% on air. A urine dip is positive for blood.
Blood tests show the following:
Hb 18.8 g/dL MCV 95 fL WCC 12.5 × 109/L Platelets 410 × 109/L
Film: normal apart from the high red cell count
U&E, LFT, calcium: all normal
Erythropoietin level: 105 (normal range: 5–35)
CT head: sagittal sinus thrombosis with no space‐occupying lesion
QUESTION 1
Your score this session: 0 of 0
What is the significance of the erythropoietin level?