Friday, June 30, 2006

People with Essential Thrombocythaemia (ET) More Vulnerable to Leukaemia

Patients with Essential Thrombocythaemia (ET), or high platelet
count, have higher risks of suffering from bleeding, thrombosis,
myelofibrosis, and acute myeloid leukaemia. The disease is a result
of excess activity of the bone marrow. Secondary causes of the diseases
include acute bleeding, removal of the spleen and inflammation such as
rheumatoid arthritis.

A study conducted by The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty
of Medicine in 2005 found that 54 percent of ET patients surveyed had
no visible symptoms, while 3 percent showed signs of bleeding, and
13 percent had thrombosis.

On the other hand, the rate of occurrence of thrombosis and bleeding
among the patients was 34 percent and 17 percent respectively. The
probability of myelofibrosis transformation was 9.7 percent after 10
years while about 2 percent of patients developed acute myeloid
leukaemia.

The projected 10-year thrombosis-free, bleeding-free, and overall
survival rates of the patients were 66 percent, 83 percent and 80
percent respectively. There were no deaths among patients aged 60
or below during a maximum follow-up period of 15 years. The high
survival rate shows that on its own ET is not a chronic disease.
Lack of ET awareness is to blame for patients not seeking treatment
earlier and preventing ET from becoming a blood disease.

Extract from the Health feature by University of Hong Kong