title: Essential thrombocythemia in a child: management with anagrelide.
abstract: Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a rare disorder in children. An 11-year-old white boy was first seen in January 1986 with symptoms of abdominal pain. His platelet count was 1.5 million/mm3. Other hematological values and coagulation studies, including bleeding time, were normal. There was laboratory evidence of mild platelet dysfunction. Using the criteria of the Polycythemia Vera Study Group, a diagnosis of ET was made. He developed frequent headaches. Aspirin was prescribed for the next 2 years at varying doses and frequency. During the period, platelet counts ranged between 1 and 3 million/mm3. In view of progressive headaches and evidence of increasing platelet dysfunction, further treatment was indicated. The use of a new agent, anagrelide, reported effective in adults with ET, resulted in amelioration of symptoms and improvement in quantitative and qualitative platelet control with no significant untoward effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Chintagumpala
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Steuber
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ogden
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Fernbach
mesh_terms: D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; C021139:anagrelide; D001241:Aspirin