Neurological disorders in essential thrombocythemia

Haematologica. 2011 Dec;96(12):1866-9. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2011.050005. Epub 2011 Sep 20.

Abstract

Patients with essential thrombocythemia often complain of various subjective neurological symptoms. This prospective study aims to assess their incidence and response to therapy. Among 37 consecutive patients with essential thrombocythemia, 11 presented with neurological symptoms. Among them 4 had thrombotic events, 7 complained of transient or fluctuating subjective symptoms, and one had both. Brain magnetic resonance imagery failed to detect any substratum in patients with subjective symptoms. JAK2V617F mutation was found in 9 of 11 patients with neurological symptoms versus 14 of 26 patients without symptoms. Ten patients received low-dose aspirin for these symptoms: complete resolution was observed in 3, improvement with persisting episodes in 2, and resistance to aspirin in 2 patients, in whom addition of cytoreductive therapy became necessary to resolve those disabling symptoms. In this prospective cohort, 30% of patients with essential thrombocythemia presented neurological symptoms. Aspirin was fully efficient in only 30% of cases. JAK2V617F mutation could be a risk factor for such symptoms.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
  • Aspirin / administration & dosage
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Janus Kinase 2 / genetics
  • Janus Kinase 2 / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Nervous System Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy
  • Nervous System Diseases / enzymology
  • Nervous System Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Nervous System Diseases / genetics
  • Radiography
  • Risk Factors
  • Thrombocythemia, Essential / complications
  • Thrombocythemia, Essential / diagnostic imaging
  • Thrombocythemia, Essential / drug therapy
  • Thrombocythemia, Essential / enzymology
  • Thrombocythemia, Essential / epidemiology*
  • Thrombocythemia, Essential / genetics

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • JAK2 protein, human
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • Aspirin