What Is-Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis

What Is- Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis
Thrombocythemia (THROM-bo-si-THE-me-ah) and thrombocytosis

(THROM-bo-si-TO-sis) are conditions in which your blood has a higher
than normal number of platelets (PLATE-lets).
Platelets are blood cell fragments. They're made in your bone marrow
along with other kinds of blood cells.
Platelets travel through your blood vessels and stick together (clot).
Clotting helps stop any bleeding that may occur if a blood vessel is
damaged. Platelets also are called thrombocytes (THROM-bo-sites)
because a blood clot also is called a thrombus.
A normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per

microliter of blood.
Overview
The term "thrombocythemia" is preferred when the cause of a high
platelet count isn't known. The condition sometimes is called primary
or essential thrombocythemia.
This condition occurs if faulty cells in the bone marrow make too many
platelets. Bone marrow is the sponge-like tissue inside the bones. It
contains stem cells that develop into red blood cells, white blood cells,
and platelets. What causes the bone marrow to make too many
platelets often isn't known.
With primary thrombocythemia, a high platelet count may occur alone

or with other blood cell disorders. This condition isn't common.
When another disease or condition causes a high platelet count, the

term "thrombocytosis" is preferred. This condition often is called
secondary or reactive thrombocytosis. Secondary thrombocytosis is
more common than primary thrombocythemia.
Often, a high platelet count doesn't cause signs or symptoms. Rarely,

serious or life-threatening symptoms can develop, such as blood clots
and bleeding. These symptoms are more likely to occur in people who
have primary thrombocythemia.
Outlook
People who have primary thrombocythemia with no signs or symptoms
don't need treatment, as long as the condition remains stable.
Other people who have this condition may need medicines or

procedures to treat it. Most people who have primary
thrombocythemia will live a normal lifespan.
Treatment and outlook for secondary thrombocytosis depend on its

underlying cause.
Other Names- Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis

Primary thrombocythemia also is called:
 Essential thrombocythemia. This term is used when a high

platelet count occurs alone (that is, without other blood cell disorders).
 Idiopathic (id-ee-o-PATH-ick) thrombocythemia.
 Primary or essential thrombocytosis (these are less favored
terms).
Thrombocytosis also is known as:
 Secondary or reactive thrombocytosis.

 Secondary thrombocythemia (this is a less favored term).
Causes- Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis
Primary Thrombocythemia
In this condition, faulty stem cells in the bone marrow make too many
platelets. What causes this to happen usually isn't known. When this
process occurs without other blood cell disorders, it's called essential
thrombocythemia.
A rare form of thrombocythemia is inherited. ("Inherited" means the

condition is passed from parents to children through the genes.) In
some cases, a genetic mutation may cause the condition.
In addition to the bone marrow making too many platelets, the

platelets also are abnormal in primary thrombocythemia. They may
form blood clots or, surprisingly, cause bleeding when they don't work
well.
Bleeding also can occur because of a condition that develops
called von Willebrand disease. This condition affects the blood clotting
process.
After many years, scarring of the bone marrow can occur.
Secondary Thrombocytosis
This condition occurs if another disease, condition, or outside factor
causes the platelet count to rise. For example, 35 percent of people
who have high platelet counts also have cancer—mostly lung,
gastrointestinal, breast, ovarian, and lymphoma. Sometimes a high
platelet count is the first sign of cancer.
Other conditions or factors that can cause a high platelet count are:
 Iron-deficiency anemia (uh-NEE-me-uh)
 Hemolytic (HEE-moh-lit-ick) anemia
 Absence of a spleen (after surgery to remove the organ)
 Inflammatory or infectious diseases, such as connective tissue
disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, and tuberculosis
 Reactions to medicine
Some conditions can lead to a high platelet count that lasts for only a
short time. Examples of such conditions include:
 Recovery from serious blood loss

 Recovery from a very low platelet count caused by excessive
alcohol use and lack of vitamin B12 or folate
 Acute (short-term) infection or inflammation
 Response to physical activity
Although the platelet count is high in secondary thrombocytosis, the

platelets are normal (unlike in primary thrombocythemia). Thus,
people who have secondary thrombocytosis have a lower risk of blood
clots and bleeding.
Risk Factors- Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis
Primary Thrombocythemia
Thrombocythemia isn't common. The exact number of people who
have the condition isn't known. Some estimates suggest that 24 out of
every 100,000 people have primary thrombocythemia.
Primary thrombocythemia is more common in people aged 50 to 70,

but it can occur at any age. For unknown reasons, more women
around the age of 30 have primary thrombocythemia than men of the
same age.
Secondary Thrombocytosis
You might be at risk for secondary thrombocytosis if you have a
disease, condition, or factor that can cause it. (For more information,
go to "What Causes Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis?")
Secondary thrombocytosis is more common than primary

thrombocythemia. Studies have shown that most people who have
platelet counts over 500,000 have secondary thrombocytosis.

What Is-Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis

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What Is- Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis

Thrombocythemia (THROM-bo-si-THE-me-ah) and thrombocytosis

A normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per

With primary thrombocythemia, a high platelet count may occur alone

When another disease or condition causes a high platelet count, the

Often, a high platelet count doesn't cause signs or symptoms. Rarely,

Other people who have this condition may need medicines or

Treatment and outlook for secondary thrombocytosis depend on its

Other Names- Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis

 Essential thrombocythemia. This term is used when a high

Thrombocytosis also is known as:

 Secondary or reactive thrombocytosis.

Causes- Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis

A rare form of thrombocythemia is inherited. ("Inherited" means the

In addition to the bone marrow making too many platelets, the

After many years, scarring of the bone marrow can occur.

 Recovery from serious blood loss

Although the platelet count is high in secondary thrombocytosis, the

Risk Factors- Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis

Primary thrombocythemia is more common in people aged 50 to 70,

Secondary thrombocytosis is more common than primary

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