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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffBone marrow — spongy tissue inside your bones — contains stem cells that can become red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets. Platelets travel through your blood vessels. They stick together to form clots that stop the bleeding when you damage a blood vessel, such as when you get a cut. A normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood.
If you have essential thrombocythemia, your bone marrow makes too many platelet-forming cells (megakaryocytes), which release too many platelets into your blood. The excess platelets may not function normally, leading to abnormal clotting or bleeding.
The exact cause of ET and other myeloproliferative neoplasms isn't known. About half the people with the disorder have a mutation of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene. Other gene mutations also have been associated with ET. The role of these mutations in causing the disease is still being investigated. A rare form of thrombocythemia is inherited.
A high platelet count that's caused by an underlying condition such as an infection or iron deficiency is called reactive or secondary thrombocytosis.
- Thrombocythemia. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec14/ch178/ch178d.html. Accessed June 12, 2010.
- Tefferi A. Diagnosis and clinical manifestations of essential thrombocythemia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 12, 2010.
- What are thrombocythemia and thrombocytosis? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/thrm/thrm_all.html. Accessed June 12, 2010.
- Tefferi A. Myeloproliferative disorders: Essential thrombocythemia and primary myeolfibrosis. In: Goldman L, et al, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/206064361-4/1014199238/1492/658.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50182-8--cesec8_7943. Accessed June 12, 2010.
- Essential or primary thrombocythemia. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/attachments/National/br_1178803674.pdf. Accessed June 12, 2010.
- Chronic myeloproliferative disorders treatment (PDQ): Patient version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/myeloproliferative/patient/allpages/print. Accessed June 12, 2010.
- Vannucchi A, et al. Advances in understanding and management of myeoloproliferative neoplasms. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2009;59:171.
- Finazzi G, et al. Essential thrombocythemia. In: Hoffman R, et al. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06715-0..50073-X&uniq=206064361&isbn=978-0-443-06715-0&sid=1014199238. Accessed June 17, 2010.
- Tefferi A. Prognosis and treatment of essential thrombocythemia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 12, 2010.
- Myeloproliferative disorders. Lab Tests Online. http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/myelopro_disorders-3.html#. Accessed June 17, 2010.
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