About this topic
Essential thrombocythemia is also called ET. It is a rare blood condition in which the body makes too many platelets. Platelets are cells that help the blood clot. Having too many platelets can lead to serious health problems. You may have blood clots that cause: ‚
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Deep vein thrombosis
ET is a serious health condition. It gets worse over time. You will need regular care to help prevent problems. ‚
What are the causes?
The bone marrow is the area inside the bones. This part of the bone makes three kinds of blood cells. Sometimes, your bone marrow may make too many platelets. It may also make too many of the other blood cells as well. Essential thrombocythemia may be inherited through families. In some types, doctors do not know what causes this to happen. ‚
Your platelets do not work as well as they should. You may have bleeding or blood clots in your body that are not normal. ‚
What can make this more likely to happen?
- More common in people aged 50 to 70 years
- Women
- History of blood clots
What are the main signs?
- Blood clot formation
- Problems with the hands and feet like burning, throbbing, or feeling cold
- Headache and dizziness
- Changes in eyesight
- Confusion or seizures
- Trouble breathing
- Signs of a stroke: Weakness on one side; drooping eye or side of the mouth; problems moving your hands, arms, or feet the way you want to
- Bleeding
- Bleeding gums and nose
- A lot of bleeding from a small cut
- Blood in the stool, either bright red or dark and tarry
- Easy bruising
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
Your doctor will take your history and do an exam. The doctor will look for signs of bleeding and blood clots. You may need to go see an expert who works with blood conditions. This is a hematologist. You may also need to have: ‚
- Lab tests
- Bone marrow biopsy
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
The treatment for your ET will be based on your condition. Some people may not need any treatment if they are not having any signs. Other people will need to take drugs or have procedures. These will help to keep the platelet count normal. You will need to have regular check-ups with your doctor. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may give you drugs to lower your platelet count. ‚
Will there be any other care needed?
- In a very serious case, the doctor may want you to have a special procedure like plateletpheresis. This is done to take platelets out of your body. The doctor will put a needle into your vein. It is hooked to a tube that leads to a special machine. This machine takes the platelets from the blood. The rest of the blood will be returned back to your body.
- Talk with your doctor about drugs you may need to avoid. Some drugs raise your risk of bleeding.
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
There is no known way to prevent this condition. There are things you can do to lower your risk of blood clots. ‚
- Stop smoking.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day.
- Work with your doctor to treat illnesses like high blood cholesterol, high blood sugar, or high blood pressure.
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Exercise your leg muscles during airplane or car trips.
- Stand up and walk around regularly. Do not sit for long periods of time.
Where can I learn more?
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society ‚
http://www.lls.org/content/nationalcontent/resourcecenter/freeeducationmaterials/mpd/pdf/essentialprimarythrombocythemia.pdf ‚
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute ‚
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/thrm/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚