Essential thrombocythemia(ET) is one of a group of blood disorders called myeloproliferative neoplasms. Other types of myeloproliferative neoplasms include primary myelofibrosis andpolycythemia vera.
Genetic mutations in essential thrombocythemia lead toextremely high platelet counts(thrombocytosis). Many people are without symptoms at the time of diagnosis and will have a normal life expectancy. Complications include:
The majority of people will require therapy at some point to prevent complications. However, life expectancy is similar to or slightly less than the healthy general population.
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Treatment Options
If you are diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia the natural next question is, “what are my treatment options?” There are several options that your healthcare provider should discuss with you. The treatment your healthcare provider recommends is likely based on several factors: your symptoms, your age, and your laboratory values. Most people will go several years without requiring treatment, which is typically started if you develop a clot.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tefferi A, Barbui T.Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: 2021 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification and management.Am J Hematol. 2020;95(12):1599-1613. doi:10.1002/ajh.26008Accurso V, Santoro M, Mancuso S, et al.The essential thrombocythemia in 2020: what we know and where we still have to dig deep.Clin Med Insights Blood Disord. 2020;13:263485352097821. doi:10.1177/2634853520978210National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Thrombocytopenia.National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Hydroxyurea capsule[drug label].National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Anagrelide capsule[drug label].Jiang H, Jin Y, Shang Y, et al.Therapeutic plateletpheresis in patients with thrombocytosis: gender, hemoglobin before apheresis significantly affect collection efficiency.Front Med. 2021;8:762419. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.762419
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tefferi A, Barbui T.Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: 2021 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification and management.Am J Hematol. 2020;95(12):1599-1613. doi:10.1002/ajh.26008Accurso V, Santoro M, Mancuso S, et al.The essential thrombocythemia in 2020: what we know and where we still have to dig deep.Clin Med Insights Blood Disord. 2020;13:263485352097821. doi:10.1177/2634853520978210National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Thrombocytopenia.National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Hydroxyurea capsule[drug label].National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Anagrelide capsule[drug label].Jiang H, Jin Y, Shang Y, et al.Therapeutic plateletpheresis in patients with thrombocytosis: gender, hemoglobin before apheresis significantly affect collection efficiency.Front Med. 2021;8:762419. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.762419
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Tefferi A, Barbui T.Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: 2021 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification and management.Am J Hematol. 2020;95(12):1599-1613. doi:10.1002/ajh.26008Accurso V, Santoro M, Mancuso S, et al.The essential thrombocythemia in 2020: what we know and where we still have to dig deep.Clin Med Insights Blood Disord. 2020;13:263485352097821. doi:10.1177/2634853520978210National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Thrombocytopenia.National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Hydroxyurea capsule[drug label].National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Anagrelide capsule[drug label].Jiang H, Jin Y, Shang Y, et al.Therapeutic plateletpheresis in patients with thrombocytosis: gender, hemoglobin before apheresis significantly affect collection efficiency.Front Med. 2021;8:762419. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.762419
Tefferi A, Barbui T.Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: 2021 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification and management.Am J Hematol. 2020;95(12):1599-1613. doi:10.1002/ajh.26008
Accurso V, Santoro M, Mancuso S, et al.The essential thrombocythemia in 2020: what we know and where we still have to dig deep.Clin Med Insights Blood Disord. 2020;13:263485352097821. doi:10.1177/2634853520978210
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Thrombocytopenia.
National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Hydroxyurea capsule[drug label].
National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Anagrelide capsule[drug label].
Jiang H, Jin Y, Shang Y, et al.Therapeutic plateletpheresis in patients with thrombocytosis: gender, hemoglobin before apheresis significantly affect collection efficiency.Front Med. 2021;8:762419. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.762419
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