HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini

Essential thrombocythaemia (high platelets)

Mate toto-kōpiapia teitei

Essential thrombocythaemia (throm-bo-sigh-thee-me-a) is a rare condition that causes high platelets.

Most people with essential thrombocythaemia stay well, but they have a higher risk of blood clots because platelets are what make your blood clot. These can lead to a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, stroke, heart attack or the loss of blood supply to a toe or finger.

After many years, people with essential thrombocythaemia can sometimes develop other blood problems, such as anaemia, scarring of their bone marrow (a condition called myelofibrosis) or even leukaemia.

Essential thrombocythaemia is usually treated with low-dose aspirin every day to reduce the risk of blood clots. Some people need additional treatment with medication if they have a higher risk of getting blood clots.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ – Myeloproliferative neoplasms – essential thrombocythaemia

  A factsheet with more detailed information about essential thrombocythaemia.

Written by Haematology Department, Christchurch Hospital. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed February 2023.

Sources

Page reference: 31426

Review key: HIETH-31426