Hyperviscosity Syndrome Follow-up

  • Author: Thomas J Hemingway, MD; Chief Editor: Barry E Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP   more...
 
Updated: Jul 8, 2010
 

Further Inpatient Care

  • Supportive care should be initiated for the complications of hyperviscosity syndrome pending definitive therapy. Care includes support for blood loss, central nervous system disorders, and cardiovascular effects, and metabolic derangements.
  • Note that the definitive treatment of hyperviscosity syndrome is treatment of the underlying disorder (eg, chemotherapy).
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Transfer

  • Consider transfer if hematology/oncology consultation and plasma or cellular pheresis are unavailable at the treating facility.
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Complications

  • Complications depend upon the underlying cause of the hyperviscosity.
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Prognosis

  • Prognosis depends on the severity of the complications associated with hyperviscosity syndrome and the underlying cause of the hyperviscosity syndrome and the response of the appropriate definitive treatment. For example, multiple myeloma continues to have a poor long-term prognosis.
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Patient Education

  • The diseases leading to hyperviscosity are chronic, and this condition may recur.
  • Patients and their families and/or caregivers should be educated about early signs and symptoms (eg, bleeding, visual symptoms, headache, mental status changes, shortness of breath).
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Thomas J Hemingway, MD  Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Wilcox Memorial Hospital

Thomas J Hemingway, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Eric Alexander Savitsky, MD  Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center

Eric Alexander Savitsky, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Douglas F Kupas, MD  Associate Chief Academic Officer, Geisinger Health System; Assistant Dean for Medical Student Affairs, Temple University Geisinger Clinical Campus; Commonwealth EMS Medical Director, Pennsylvania Department of Health

Douglas F Kupas, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, National Association of EMS Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Robin R Hemphill, MD, MPH  Associate Professor, Director, Quality and Safety, Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University

Robin R Hemphill, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Jeffrey L Arnold, MD, FACEP  Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

Jeffrey L Arnold, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine and American College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Barry E Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP  Professor of Emergency Medicine, Professor of Internal Medicine, Program Director, Emergency Medicine, University Hospitals, Case Medical Center

Barry E Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, American Thoracic Society, Arkansas Medical Society, New York Academy of Medicine, New York Academy of Sciences, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  14. Ovadia S, Lysyy L, Floru S. Emergency plasmapheresis for unstable angina in a patient with hyperviscosity syndrome. Am J Emerg Med. Oct 2005;23(6):811-2. [Medline].

  15. Rogers R. Emergencies in Hematology and Oncology - Subtle and Atypical presentations, pearls and pitfalls. EMedHome.com [web site].

  16. Rosen P, et al. Marx: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Mosby Inc; 2002.

  17. Zarkovic M, Kwaan HC. Correction of hyperviscosity by apheresis. Semin Thromb Hemost. Oct 2003;29(5):535-42. [Medline].

 
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