<prompt> If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patients description.I had a routine blood test while sick with the flu ER and the doctor gave me a sheet on polycythemia vera and said I should follow up with my family doctor. I didn t know what to ask him because this had never happened before. Could the RBC be higher for another reason.  <response>: Hi, Polycythemia is a condition characterized by high RBC count or high hemoglobin of more than 18g. It is seen in many conditions like1. High altitudes2. Pulmonary diseases3. Side effects of certain cancer paraneoplastic syn Chat Doctor. Polycythemia VeraPolycythemia Vera is a clonal disorder and is due to inherited mutations. Recent research shows it to be more acquired rather than inherited. Protein JAK2 mutation is usually seen. If I have more details, I can help more. Any further queries, happy to help again. 