What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Thrombocythemia
and Thrombocytosis?
Most people who have thrombocythemia or
thrombocytosis have no signs or symptoms. These conditions often are discovered
only after routine
blood
tests.
People who have primary thrombocythemia are more
likely than those who have secondary thrombocytosis to have serious signs and
symptoms.
Primary Thrombocythemia
Often, people who have symptoms of primary
thrombocythemia only have a mild form of the condition. The most common
symptoms are linked to blood clots and bleeding. They are weakness, bleeding,
headache, and numbness of the hands and feet.
Blood Clots
In primary thrombocythemia, blood clots most often
develop in the brain, hands, and feet. But they can happen anywhere in the
body, including in the heart and intestines.
Blood clots in the brain cause symptoms in 25
percent of people who have this condition. Common symptoms are chronic
(ongoing) headache and dizziness. In extreme cases,
stroke may occur.
Blood clots in the tiny blood vessels of the hands
and feet leave them numb and red. This may lead to an intense burning and
throbbing pain felt mainly on the palms of the hands and the soles of the
feet.
Other signs and symptoms of blood clots may
include:
- Changes in speech or awareness, ranging from
confusion to passing out
- Seizures
- Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the
back, neck, jaw, or stomach
- Shortness of breath and nausea (feeling sick to
your stomach)
Blood clots in the placenta cause fetal death or
miscarriage in half of pregnant women who have primary thrombocythemia.
Blood clots aren't only linked to having
thrombocythemia or thrombocytosis, but to other factors as well. Age (being
older than 60), prior blood clots,
diabetes,
high
blood pressure, and smoking also increase your risk for blood clots.
Bleeding
Bleeding most often occurs in people who have
platelet counts higher than 1 million platelets per microliter of blood. Signs
of bleeding include nosebleeds, bruising, bleeding from the mouth or gums, or
blood in the stools.
Although bleeding usually is linked to having a low
platelet count, it also can occur in people who have high platelet counts.
Blood clots that develop in thrombocythemia or thrombocytosis may use up your
body's platelets. This means that not enough platelets are left in your
bloodstream to seal off any cuts and breaks in the blood vessels.
Another cause of bleeding in patients who have very
high platelets counts is a condition called
von
Willebrand Disease. This condition affects the blood clotting process.
In rare cases of primary thrombocythemia (less than
2 percent), the faulty bone marrow cells will cause a form of leukemia
(lu-KE-me-ah). Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells.
Secondary Thrombocytosis
People who have secondary thrombocytosis have a
lower risk for bleeding and blood clots. This is because their platelets are
generally normal (unlike in primary thrombocythemia) and their platelet counts
aren't as high.
However, people who have this condition are at
higher risk for blood clots and bleeding if they're on bed rest or have a
severe disease of the arteries. |