Essential Thrombocythemia

Abstract

This is a review of twelve cases of Essential Thrombocythemia at Suratthani Hospital, aged between 48 to 87 years old, 6 male and 6 female. The initial clinical presentations were as follows: 2 asymptomatic cases (incidentally found on routine CBC check up), 4 cases of cerebral infarction (one of them presented with paresthesia, erythromelalgia, transient ischemic attack, and a convulsion which finally progressed to cerebral infarction), 1 case with ischemic heart disease, 1 case with deep vein thrombosis of the left leg and an intramuscular hematoma of the left calf,1 case with an intramuscular hematoma of the right gluteus muscle,1 case with ischemic gangrene of the toes and an upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, 1 case with erythromelagia with an ischemic digital ulcer and another case with a post-operative hematoma. The average platelet count was 1,524x10³/μl. The treatment regimens were Busulfan or Hydroxyurea and additional treatment with an antiplatelet aggregation agent in patients with vascular occlusive disease. The patients responded well to the treatment. Due to the long natural history of essential thrombocythemia and the leukemogenic side effects of chemotherapy, more suitable therapy is considered especially in asymptomatic patients.