Primary thrombocythemia

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Blood cells

Essential thrombocythemia; Essential thrombocytosis

If a patient is having life-threatening complications, rapid decrease of the platelet count may be achieved through platelet pheresis, a procedure to remove platelets from the blood directly.

Long-term decrease of the platelet count using medications can reduce both bleeding and clotting complications. Most common medications include hydroxyurea, interferon-alpha, or anagrelide. For patients with a known clotting tendency, aspirin may help decrease clotting episodes.

Some patients do not need any treatment.

The outcome varies with reports ranging from prolonged periods without complications in some people, to fatalities from complications related to hemorrhage and thrombosis in others.

• Severe hemorrhage
• Thrombotic episodes (stroke, heart attack, or blood clots in extremities)
• Acute leukemia or myelofibrosis can develop in some patients

• If unexplained or prolonged bleeding occurs.
• If chest pain, leg pain, confusion, weakness, numbness, or other new symptoms develop.

Review Date: 04/15/2005
Reviewed By: Rita Nanda, MD, Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.