Predictive values of X-chromosome inactivation patterns and clinicohematologic parameters for vascular complications in female patients with essential thrombocythemia.
Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a heterogeneous disorder in which the clonality of hematopoiesis varies. The clinical significance of clonality status in ET remains to be determined. We used the human androgen receptor gene (HUMARA)-polymerase chain reaction assay to investigate X-chromosome inactivation patterns (XCIPs) and their value in predicting vascular complications in 89 female patients with ET. Fifty-four (68.4%) patients had a clonal pattern of XCIP, and 15 (19.0%) had a polyclonal pattern. The remaining 20 patients had either an ambiguous or a homozygous pattern of XCIP and were therefore excluded from further analysis. Patients with clonal XCIPs were older (P =.029) and were at greater risk for thrombosis (P =.007) than were those with polyclonal XCIPs. We did not find a correlation between the occurrence of hemorrhage and XCIP (P =.492). Advanced age was predictive of thrombosis and hemorrhage. Platelet count did not influence the risk for vascular complications. Hypertension was significantly correlated with thrombotic events (P =.002), whereas diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia were of no predictive value. In a multivariate analysis, age was the significant predictor of thrombosis (P =.030); however, XCIPs (P =.083) and hypertension (P =.073) tended to predict thrombosis. Our results suggest that older patients who have clonal XCIPs or hypertension are at increased risk for thrombosis and should be monitored closely for this complication.
Shih
Lee-Yung
LY
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. sly7012@adm.cgmh.org.tw
Lin
Tung-Liang
TL
Lai
Chang-Liang
CL
Dunn
Po
P
Wu
Jin-Hou
JH
Wang
Po-Nan
PN
Kuo
Ming-Chung
MC
Lee
Lai-Chu
LC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004303:Dosage Compensation, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D013922:Thrombocytosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics