What do people with essential thrombocythemia die of?
In most cases, if they are properly monitored and treated, diseases of old age. A small percentage may convert to acute leukemia. This is usually associated with prior treatment of a leukemogenic drug (a drug that, as a side effect, may initiate or progress leukemia). Some persons progress to the post thrombocythemic myeloid metaplasia stage where blood counts fall and bleeding and infection complications become a problem. 18.
