Erythrocytosis associated with multiple cutaneous leiomyomata: report of a case with demonstration of erythropoietic activity in the tumour

A patient with leiomyomata of the skin and erythrocytosis is reported. After surgical removal of the larger skin tumours there was remission of the haematologic abnormalities and the erythrocytosis and the red cell mass decreased to normal levels. The raised serum erythropoietin levels were reduced but remained slightly elevated and less than those recorded prior to surgery. Tumour extracts contained significant erythropoietic activity. This seems to be the first documented case of erythrocytosis associated with skin leiomyomata.