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Primary thrombocythemia - Symptom

Alternative Names

Essential thrombocythemia; Essential thrombocytosis

Symptoms:

Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, urinary tract, or skin
Bleeding from the gums
Bloody stools
Dizziness
Easy bruising
Enlarged lymph nodes (rare)
Headache
Nosebleeds (epistaxis)
Numbness of the hands or feet
Prolonged bleeding from surgical procedures or tooth extraction
Ulcers on the fingers or toes

The condition may even cause strokes in some people.

Signs and tests:

This condition is often detected on blood tests done for other reasons, before there are any symptoms.

A physical exam may show an enlarged spleen or liver.

Other tests may include:

Bone marrow aspiration
CBC
Genetic tests
Uric acid level

Blood cells

Reviewed last on: 3/2/2009
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Tefferi A. Myeloproliferative disorders: Essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 177.

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