Vaskulárna medicína 1/2011

Thrombocytosis and thrombosis in myeloproliferative neoplasms

Trombophilia, which severely impacts on morbidity and mortality of myeloproliferative neoplasms, especially polycythaemia vera and essential thrombocythaemia is variably characterized by microcirculatory disturbances, arterial and venous thromboses that often precede disease recognition. Thus, the search for Janus Kinase 2 mutation, the molecular marker of myeloproliferative neoplasms, is becoming increasingly common particularly in patients with vein thromboses at atypical sites. Although the pathogenesis of thromboses is still elusive, platelet and leukocyte abnormalities seem particularly critical and likely account for the antithrombotic efficacy of aspirin. Early diagnosis of these life-threatening diseases and their treatment are challenging and should be made in specialized centres. In this view, research priorities seem to be the function of leukocyte activation in arterial thrombosis and mechanisms linking JAK2 mutation with venous thrombosis both at typical and atypical sites.

Keywords: myeloproliferative neoplasms, polycytemia vera, essential thrombocythaemia, thrombosis, leukocytosis, JAK2 mutation