Hemostatic complications in young patients with essential thrombocythemia.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of hemostastic complications in young patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The clinical course of 44 patients under the age of 45 with the diagnosis of ET was reviewed in a retrospective manner. Patients were collected from three medical centers in the United States and Italy: the Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Harvard Community Health Plan, Boston, Massachusetts, and the Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of hemorrhage or thrombosis, or both, in this group of patients was 39% (17 of 44), with serious complications occurring in 23% (10 of 44). Two patients died of thrombotic events. Neither the presence of symptoms at diagnosis nor any single laboratory parameter proved predictive of clinical sequelae. Treatment with antiplatelet drugs or platelet-lowering agents was not protective.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that ET in young patients may result in serious and life-threatening hemostatic problems and consequently that young age is not a favorable prognostic factor in this disease.