How Are Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis
Treated?
Primary Thrombocythemia
This condition is considered less harmful today than
in the past, and its outlook is often good. People who have no signs or
symptoms don't need treatment, as long as the condition remains stable.
Taking aspirin may help people who are at risk for
blood clots, because aspirin thins the blood. However, you should talk to your
doctor about using aspirin, because it can cause bleeding. Doctors prescribe
aspirin to most pregnant women who have primary thrombocythemia. This is
because it doesn't have a high risk for side effects to the fetus.
Some people who have primary thrombocythemia may
need medicines or medical procedures to lower their platelet counts.
Medicines To Lower Platelet Counts
You may need medicines to lower your platelet count
if you:
You will need to take these medicines throughout
your life.
Hydroxyurea. This is the most
common platelet-lowering medicine to treat primary thrombocythemia. Hydroxyurea
is used to treat cancers and other life-threatening diseases. It's most often
given under the care of doctors who specialize in cancer or blood diseases.
Patients on hydroxyurea are closely monitored.
Currently, hydroxyurea plus aspirin is the standard
treatment for people who have primary thrombocythemia and are at high risk for
blood clots.
Anagrelide. This medicine has been
used to treat thrombocythemia. However, it seems less effective than
hydroxyurea. Anagrelide also has side effects such as fluid retention,
palpitations
(pal-pi-TA-shuns),
arrhythmias
(ah-RITH-me-ahs),
heart
failure, and headaches.
Interferon alfa. This medicine is
effective at lowering platelet counts. However, 20 percent of
patients can't handle its side effects. These include a flu-like feeling,
decreased appetite, nausea (feeling sick to the stomach), diarrhea, seizures,
irritability, and sleepiness.
Doctors may prescribe this medicine to pregnant
women who have primary thrombocythemia. This is because it's safer for the
fetus than hydroxyurea and anagrelide.
Plateletpheresis
Plateletpheresis (PLATE-let-fe-REH-sis) is a
procedure used to rapidly lower your platelet count. This procedure is only
used for emergencies. For example, if you're having a
stroke due to primary thrombocythemia, you may need
plateletpheresis.
During this procedure, an intravenous (IV) needle
that's connected to a tube is placed in one of your blood vessels to remove
blood. The blood goes through a machine that removes platelets from the blood.
The remaining blood is then put back into you through an IV line in one of your
blood vessels.
One or two procedures may be enough to reduce your
platelet count to a safe level.
Secondary Thrombocytosis
Secondary thrombocytosis is treated by addressing
the underlying condition that's causing it.
People who have this condition usually don't need
platelet-lowering medicines or procedures. This is because their platelets are
generally normal (unlike in primary thrombocythemia). Also, their platelet
counts often aren't high enough to put them at risk for blood clots or
bleeding. |