Abstract

Abstract: Two patients with “Gaisböck syndrome” (stress polycythemia) were found to have been under chronic “stress” with REM sleep decrease, decreased nocturnal ADH-like activity and consequent nocturnal water loss. The role of REM decrease with chronic “stress” in causing secondary decrease in nocturnal ADH-like activity was emphasized as the means by which “stress” caused the blood volume changes seen with these two patients. Some factors that possibly could play a role in the pathophysiology of this syndrome were ruled out and other factors not studied here were considered for future investigation.