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MBBS QUESTION #10251
Question 1
A patient with cyanotic congenital heart disease develops chronic hypoxia and subsequently polycythemia. This compensatory rise in red cell mass is primarily driven by increased secretion of which hormone?
  • Erythropoietin from renal peritubular cells, stimulated by chronic tissue hypoxia✔️
  • Aldosterone
  • Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
  • Renin
Correct Answer Explanation
Chronic hypoxia stimulates renal peritubular cells (via hypoxia-inducible factor pathways) to increase erythropoietin secretion, driving compensatory erythropoiesis and raising oxygen-carrying capacity, at the cost of increased blood viscosity and thrombotic risk.