Dr. Bose on Risk Factors of Essential Thrombocythemia

Prithviraj Bose, MD, an associate professor in the Department of Leukemia of the Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses risk factors associated with essential thrombocythemia (ET).

Historically, ​high platelet counts were a concern among patients with ET, says Bose. However, studies have shown that high platelet count does not increase the risk of clotting. As such, controlling platelet counts that are under 1.5 million µL is not as important as once thought. However, patients whose platelet counts are over 1.5 million µL will bleed rather than clot, Bose says. In these situations, controlling platelet count is necessary.

​As such, platelet count does not innately pose a thrombotic risk, says Bose. As such, other risk factors associated with ET​, such as age, JAK2 mutations, and prior thrombosis​, should be focused on rather than platelet counts, Bose concludes.