Do you have any medical information on a condition called "essential thrombocytosis"?

Answer:
Alternative names Return to top
Essential thrombocythemia; Essential thrombocytosisDefinition Return to topPrimary thrombocythemia is the overproduction of platelets without a recognizable cause. Platelets are essential for blood clotting.Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to topPrimary thrombocythemia is a slowly progressing disorder, caused by overgrowth of a type of cell that is a precursor of blood cells. Although the platelets are primarily affected, the red blood cells and white blood cells are also involved.The disease has similarities to polycythemia vera, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and myelofibrosis. Usually it affects people in middle age. Bleeding can occur from the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, urinary tract, or skin.The formation of blood clots (thrombosis), may occur with bleeding episodes. It may even cause strokes in some people. Risk factors are unknown. The incidence is about 3 out of 100,000 people.Symptoms Return to top * Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract
* Bleeding from the gums
* Bloody stools
* Dizziness
* Easy bruising
* Enlarged lymph nodes (rare)
* Headache
* Nosebleeds (epistaxis)
* Numbness of hands or feet
* Prolonged bleeding from surgical procedures or tooth extraction
* Ulcers on fingers or toesSigns and tests Return to top * Bone marrow aspiration
* CBC that shows elevated platelet count
* Physical examination may show enlarged spleen or liver
* Uric acid level may be elevatedTreatment Return to topIf a patient has life-threatening complications, platelet pheresis, a procedure to remove platelets from the blood directly, can rapidly decrease the platelet count.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.Expectations (prognosis) Return to topThe outcome varies. Some people have prolonged periods without complications, while complications related to hemorrhage and thrombosis lead to death in others.Complications Return to top * Acute leukemia or myelofibrosis can develop in some patients
* Severe hemorrhage
* Thrombotic episodes (stroke, heart attack, or blood clots in extremities)Calling your health care provider Return to topCall your health care provider: * If unexplained or prolonged bleeding occurs
* If chest pain, leg pain, confusion, weakness, numbness, or other new symptoms develop

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Essential thrombocytosis (ET, also known as essential thrombocythemia) is a rare chronic blood disorder characterized by the overproduction of platelets by megakaryocytes in the bone marrow in the absence of an alternative cause. In some cases this disorder may be progressive, and rarely may evolve into acute myeloid leukemia or myelofibrosis. It is one of four Myeloproliferative Disorders.

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