SYSTEMIC MANIFESTATIONS OF ESSENTIAL THROMBOCYTHEMIA

In patients with essential thrombocythemia, bleeding or thrombosis due to the platelet abnormality are usually the only somatic manifestations. However, other (non-bleeding, non-thrombosis: NBNT) symptoms have been reported, although their prevalence is underestimated. Systemic symptoms were studied prospectively in 12 patients with essential thrombocythemia defined as a platelet count in excess of 500 000/mm3 with no inflammatory cause. There were 2 reports of bleeding and 7 of arterial or venous thrombosis as well as 12 reports of NBNT symptoms, including headache, asthenia, and vasomotor abnormalities in the hands and/or feet. This study showed that symptoms are prevalent in essential thrombocythemia and may occur as the initial manifestations. These symptoms may be valuable as models for studying platelet function.