title: Thrombocytosis and thrombocythemia.
abstract: Thrombocytosis is caused by three major pathophysiological mechanisms: (1) reactive or secondary thrombocytosis; (2) familial thrombocytosis; and (3) clonal thrombocytosis, including essential thrombocythemia and related myeloproliferative disorders. Recent work has begun to elucidate the abnormal megakaryocytopoiesis of essential thrombocythemia, which is associated with paradoxically elevated plasma levels of thrombopoietin. The clonal nature of all cases of essential thrombocythemia has been challenged. Thrombotic complications are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in this disease. Indications for platelet cytoreduction and antiplatelet therapy, as well as complications of treatment, are being clarified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. aschafer@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Schafer
mesh_terms: D002999:Clone Cells; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013922:Thrombocytosis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors