Do Patients Just Have Elevated Platelet Counts?
In essential thrombocythemia, in addition to elevated platelet counts, platelets generally can be abnormal in size, shape, density and function. Spontaneous aggregation (clumping) can occur putting ET patients at higher risk for clotting events. There can also be an increased risk of bleeding. According to Dr. Gilbert, clinical manifestations are dominated by hemorrhage (bruising, nosebleeds , unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding, and postoperative hemorrhage) and microvascular occlusions erythema(redness) and burning as well as a host of neurological complaints such as headache, parathesis-numbness and tingling and transient ischemic attacks). It also is not uncommon for all MPD patients to have other elevated blood counts. For example, in addition to high platelet counts, white cell counts may also be increase.
