Essential thrombocythaemia

(ET; also known as essential thrombocytosis, essential thrombocythemia, primary thrombocytosis) is a rare chronic blood disorder characterised by the overproduction of platelets by megakaryocytes in the bone marrow.^[1] It may, albeit rarely, develop into acute myeloid leukaemia or myelofibrosis.^[1] It is one of four myeloproliferative disorders (disorders characterised by increased production of a particular line of blood cell).^[1]

Signs and symptoms

Most people with ET are without symptoms referable to ET at the time of diagnosis, which is usually ultimately made after noting an elevated platelet level on a routine complete blood count (CBC).^[2] The most common symptoms are bleeding, blood clots, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, visual disturbances, dizziness, fainting, and numbness in the extremities; the most common signs are increased white blood cell count, reduced red blood cell count, and enlarged spleen.^[2][3][4]

Cause

In ET, megakaryocytes are more sensitive to growth factors [citation needed]. Platelets derived from the abnormal megakaryocytes are activated, which, along with the elevated platelet count, contributes to the likelihood of thrombosis.^[5] The increased possibility of bleeding when the platelet count is over 1 million is due to von Willibrand factor (vWF) sequestration by the increased mass of platelets, leaving insufficient vWF for platelet adhesion.^[5] A mutation in the JAK2 kinase (V617F) is present in 40–50% of cases:^[1][5] it is diagnostic. JAK2 is a member of the Janus kinase family.^[1][5]

Diagnostic criteria

The following revised diagnostic criteria for essential thrombocythaemia were proposed in 2005.^[6] The diagnosis requires the presence of both A criteria together with B3 to B6, or of criterion A1 together with B1 to B6.^[7] The criteria is as follows:^[7]

• A1. Platelet count > 450 × 10³/µL for at least 2 months.
• A2. Acquired V617F JAK2 mutation present
• B1. No cause for a reactive thrombocytosis
  • normal inflammatory indices
• B2. No evidence of iron deficiency
  • stainable iron in the bone marrow or normal red cell mean corpuscular volume
• B3. No evidence of polycythaemia vera
  • hematocrit < midpoint of normal range or normal red cell mass in presence of normal iron stores
• B4. No evidence of chronic myeloid leukemia
  • But the Philadelphia chromosome may be present in up to 10% of cases. Patients with the Philadelphia chromosome have a potential for the development of acute leukemia, especially acute lymphocytic leukemia.
• B5. No evidence of myelofibrosis
  • no collagen fibrosis and ≤ grade 2 reticulin fibrosis (using 0–4 scale)
• B6. No evidence of a myelodysplastic syndrome
  • no significant dysplasia
  • no cytogenetic abnormalities suggestive of myelodysplasia

Treatment

Indications

Not all those affected will require treatment at presentation.^[8][9][10] People are usually split up into low and high risk for bleeding/blood clotting groups (based on their age, their medical history, their blood counts and their lifestyles), low risk individuals are usually treated with aspirin, whereas those at high risk are given hydroxycarbamide and/or other treatments that reduce platelet count (such as interferon-α and anagrelide).^{[1][8][9][10]}

Agents

Hydroxycarbamide, interferon-α and anagrelide can lower the platelet count. Low-dose aspirin is used to reduce the risk of thrombosis unless the platelet count is very high, where there is a risk of bleeding from the disease and hence this measure would be counter-productive (as they increase one's risk for bleeds).^{[1][8][9][10]}

The PT1 study compared hydroxyurea plus aspirin to anagrelide plus aspirin as initial therapy for ET. Hydroxyurea treated patients had a lower incidence of arterial thrombosis, lower incidence of severe bleeding and lower incidence of transformation to myelofibrosis, but the risk of venous thrombosis was higher with hydroxycarbamide than with anagrelide. It is unknown whether the results are applicable to all ET patients.^{[1][8][9][10]}

Prognosis

Essential thrombocytosis is sometimes described as a slowly progressive disorder with long asymptomatic periods punctuated by thrombotic or haemorrhagic events.^[8] However, well-documented medical regimens can reduce and control the number of platelets, which reduces the risk of these thrombotic or haemorrhagic events. The lifespan of a well controlled ET person is well within the expected range for a person of similar age but without ET.^[8]

Epidemiology

The incidence of ET is 0.6-2.5/100,000 per year, the median age at onset is 65-70 years and it is more frequent in females than in males.^[11] The incidence in children is 0.09/100,000 per year.^[11]

Pregnancy

Hydroxycarbamide and anagrelide are contraindicated during pregnancy and nursing.^[12] Essential thrombocytosis can be linked with a three-fold increase in risk of miscarriage.^[11] Throughout pregnancy, close monitoring of the mother and foetus is recommended.^[12] Low-dose low molecular weight heparin (e.g. enoxaparin) may be used.^[12] For life-threatening complications, the platelet count can be reduced rapidly using platelet apheresis, a procedure that removes platelets from the blood and returns the remainder to the patient.^[12]

References

External links

• MPN Research Foundation - Advancing Research, Empowering Patients
• MacMillan Cancer Support Essential Thrombocytosis page
• CMPD Education Foundation
• PV Reporter - Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Website, MPN Patient Research Hub