polycythemia
- n a disorder characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood
- The diseases: 1) hyperthyroidism (overactivity of the thyroid gland); 2) polycythemia (overactivity of tissues which manufacture red blood cells).
- For simple polycythemia (uncomplicated by disease of the heart or lungs), radioactive phosphorus is the best medication known today.
- In 1953 the cardinal developed a rare blood disease, polycythemia, characterized by too rapid multiplication of red corpuscles.