Relevance of early diagnosis in polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: A single center's experience

Rev Clin Esp (Barc). 2022 Mar;222(3):169-173. doi: 10.1016/j.rceng.2021.07.003. Epub 2021 Oct 14.

Abstract

Objectives: This work aims to describe the proportion of patients with polycythemia vera (PV) or essential thrombocythemia (ET) and thrombosis prior to the diagnosis who had erythrocytosis or thrombocytosis prior to the thrombosis.

Patients and methods: This is a retrospective review of 63 patients with PV and 130 with ET.

Results: In regard to PV, we found prior erythrocytosis in 7 (11.1%) of the 17 cases (27%) with thrombosis prior to diagnosis. In ET, we found prior thrombocytosis in 10 (7.7%) of the 25 cases (19.2%) with thrombosis prior to diagnosis. The median time between the laboratory finding and thrombosis was 8.2 months and 11.8 months for PV and TE, respectively. In both entities, patients with thrombosis prior to diagnosis had significantly lower survival.

Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients with thrombosis prior to the diagnosis of PV and ET present with erythrocytosis or thrombocytosis prior to the episode of thrombosis. This could allow for anticipating diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms; Essential thrombocythemia; Neoplasias mieloproliferativas crónicas; Policitemia vera; Polycythemia vera; Trombocitemia esencial.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Early Diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Polycythemia Vera* / diagnosis
  • Polycythemia Vera* / therapy
  • Thrombocythemia, Essential* / diagnosis
  • Thrombocythemia, Essential* / therapy
  • Thrombocytosis* / diagnosis
  • Thrombocytosis* / etiology
  • Thrombocytosis* / therapy
  • Thrombosis* / diagnosis
  • Thrombosis* / etiology