Neurological complications of essential thrombocytosis (ET).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of neurological abnormalities in patients with ET and attempt to identify risk factors for neurological complications.


METHODS
Ninety-five patient charts were reviewed from January 1983-July 1999. Seventy patients fulfilled the Polycythemia Vera Study Group criteria for diagnosing ET.


RESULTS
Eighteen patients (25.7%) had episodes of neurological impairment, 52 (74.3%) had none. Neurological features-- occlusive cerebrovascular event-9; chronic headache-3 and dizziness-3, mononeuritis multiplex, sinus vein thrombosis and epilepsy-1 each. The interval between diagnosis of ET and occurrence of neurological events ranged from time of presentation (10 patients) to 13 years (1 patient) with a high predominance of females, 88.8% and 55%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Neurological complications occurred at presentation or during follow-up in approximately 25% of patients with ET. Our observation suggests that further investigation focusing on the possible mechanisms for neurological deficits in females with ET should be considered.
Kesler
A
A
Department of Neurology, Meir General Hospital and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. kesler@netvision.net.il
Ellis
M H
MH
Manor
Y
Y
Gadoth
N
N
Lishner
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013922:Thrombocytosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology