Thrombocythemia

What are myeloproliferative disorders?

Myeloproliferative disorders are diseases in which the bone marrow produces too many of one of the three types of blood cells:

red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all the tissues in the body

white blood cells, which fight infection

platelets, which makes blood clot

What is thrombocythemia?

Thrombocythemia is a myeloproliferative disorder. It is characterized by the production of too many platelets in the bone marrow. Too many platelets make normal clotting of blood difficult.

What causes thrombocythemia?

There is no known cause for thrombocythemia.

What are the symptoms of thrombocythemia?

The following are the most common symptoms of thrombocythemia. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

increased blood clots in arteries and veins
bleeding
bruising easily
bleeding from the nose, gums, gastrointestinal tract
bloody stools
hemorrhaging after injury or surgery
weakness
enlarged lymph nodes

The symptoms of thrombocythemia may resemble other blood disorders or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

How is thrombocythemia diagnosed?

In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for thrombocythemia may include additional blood tests to measure blood counts and elevated platelet levels. Bone marrow biopsy (the marrow may be removed by aspiration or a needle biopsy under local anesthesia.) may also be necessary.

Treatment for thrombocythemia:

Specific treatment for thrombocythemia will be determined by your physician based on:

your age, overall health, and medical history
extent of the disease
your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the disease
your opinion or preference

Treatment may include:

chemotherapy
plateletpheresis - a procedure to remove extra platelets from the blood.

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