title: Prevention and treatment of thrombotic complications in essential thrombocythaemia: efficacy and safety of aspirin.
abstract: The efficacy and safety of aspirin in the prevention and treatment of thrombosis in essential thrombocythaemia (ET) was retrospectively analysed in a cohort of 68 ET patients. 41 patients presented with thrombosis, five patients with bleeding: two patients had a paradoxical combination of bleeding and thrombosis at presentation. At presentation, patients with bleeding had significantly higher platelet and leucocyte counts than patients with thrombosis. During long-term follow-up the incidence of thrombosis was significantly reduced in patients receiving aspirin, either as monotherapy or in combination with cytoreduction. However, treatment with aspirin (500 mg/d) was associated with an increase in (minor) bleeding complications. In patients receiving aspirin, bleeding occurred particularly at platelet counts exceeding 1000 x 10(9)/l. The overall 5- and 10-years survival probability was 93% and 84% respectively, indicating that life expectancy in ET is close to normal. Although our data need confirmation in prospective clinical trials, they suggest that aspirin, particularly in lower doses (100 mg/d), may be a safe antithrombotic agent in ET with an acceptable risk for bleeding, if applied to patients with a platelet count <1000 x 10(9)/l and/or absence of a bleeding history.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University Hospital Dijkzigt, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van Genderen
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waleboer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van de Moesdijk
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Michiels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000150:complications*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001241:Aspirin