title: Anagrelide reduces thrombotic risk in essential thrombocythaemia vs. hydroxyurea plus aspirin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the reduction in thrombotic events (TE) in patients with essential thrombocythaemia (ET) treated with anagrelide versus hydroxyurea + aspirin (HU + ASA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was developed using 2008 WHO diagnostic criteria, and thrombotic risk factors were stratified according to Landolfi criteria. Through questionnaire completion, clinicians at Hungarian haematological centres entered data into the Hungarian MPN Registry on patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. Based on ET registry data, TEs in anagrelide-treated patients (n = 139) were compared with HU + ASA-treated patients (n = 141).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were followed up for (median) 6 yr. TEs were reported in significantly fewer anagrelide-treated patients versus HU + ASA (15.1% versus 49.6%; P < 0.001). Numbers of major arterial and major venous events were similar between the groups, although there were over fivefold more minor arterial and minor venous events in the HU + ASA group (P < 0.001). While median age at diagnosis was older and length of follow-up shorter in the HU + ASA group (P < 0.05), this did not influence TE incidence; medication and TE before diagnosis only influenced TE incidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anagrelide significantly decreased the number of patients experiencing minor arterial and minor venous TEs versus HU + ASA over 6 yr. Risk of TE after diagnosis was significantly increased if the patient had TE before diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Szent Borbala County Hospital, Tatabánya, Hungary.
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dombi
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University of Debrecen Faculty of Medicine, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: Árpád
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Illés
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Haematology, Semmelweis University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Demeter
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Pazmany Peter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Lajos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Homor
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University of Debrecen Faculty of Medicine, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zsofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Somogy County Kaposi Mór Teaching Hospital, Kaposvár, Hungary.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University of Debrecen Faculty of Medicine, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: Miklos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Udvardy
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Somogy County Kaposi Mór Teaching Hospital, Kaposvár, Hungary.
authors.forename: Miklos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egyed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012306:Risk; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000150:complications*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; C021139:anagrelide; D001241:Aspirin; D006918:Hydroxyurea
keywords: anagrelide; essential thrombocythaemia; hydroxyurea + aspirin; registry; risk factors; thrombosis