Essential Thrombocytosis

Question 1

what is essential thrombocytosis

Answer 1

primary thrombocythaemia;

increased platelet count and size of platelets

Question 2

epidemiology

Answer 2

most common in females between 50 and 70

Question 3

what causes thrombocytosis

Answer 3

Megakaryocyte proliferation in the bone marrow increases the production of platelets

Question 4

how does thrombocytosis present

Answer 4

thrombosis (venous or arterial)

bleeding (GI or intracranial)

headache, dizziness, syncope, visual disturbances (due to hyperviscosity)

splenomegaly

erythromelalgia

livedo reticularis

Question 5

what is erythromelalgia

Answer 5

a red/blue discolouration of the extremities, often accompanied by a burning pain

Question 6

how to distinguish between secondary and essential thrombocytosis

Answer 6

Thrombotic complications and bleeding is an uncommon presentation of secondary thrombocytosis

secondary thrombocytosis is usually precipitated by infection or trauma

Question 7

investigations

Answer 7

blood test- platelet count

Question 8

treatment of thrombocytosis in the acute setting of thrombosis or bleeding

Answer 8

plateletpheresis

Plateletpheresis is the process of removing whole blood from a donor, separating the blood into its components, retaining the platelets, and then returning the remaining blood components to the donor. Plateletpheresis has been used for immediate platelet reduction in patients with serious haemorrhage or thrombosis