Secondary Thrombocytosis Workup

  • Author: Koyamangalath Krishnan, MD, FRCP, FACP; Chief Editor: Emmanuel C Besa, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 10, 2012
 

Laboratory Studies

Laboratory workup in cases of secondary thrombocytosis (reactive thrombocytosis) include the following:

  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), CRP
  • Cytogenetic analysis
  • Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase, vitamin B-12
  • Antinuclear antibody (ANA), rheumatoid factor (RF)
  • Iron studies (serum iron, total iron-binding capacity [TIBC], serum ferritin)
  • Peripheral blood smear review

If the clinical presentation does not clearly differentiate between secondary thrombocytosis (reactive thrombocytosis) and clonal thrombocytosis, further tests may be indicated to exclude or confirm a diagnosis of disorders that cause clonal thrombocytosis.

  • Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
  • Cytogenetic studies: The presence of the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) found in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) may also be identified using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to identify the bcr-abl fusion transcript or by using Southern blot analysis for identification of bcr-abl genomic rearrangements.

Essential thrombocythemia is a diagnosis of exclusion that is based on the following numeric criteria (adapted from Hoffman R. Primary thrombocythemia. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ Jr, Shattil SJ, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone; 2000:1188-204).[4] Patients who meet criteria 1-5 and more than 3 of criteria 6-11 are considered to have essential thrombocytosis.

  1. Platelet count greater than 600,000/mm3 on 2 occasions, separated by a 1-month interval
  2. Absence of an identifiable cause of secondary thrombocytosis (reactive thrombocytosis)
  3. Normal red blood cell mass
  4. Absence of significant bone marrow fibrosis (ie, less than one third of the bone marrow)
  5. Absence of the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) by karyotyping or absence of the bcr-abl fusion product
  6. Splenomegaly by physical examination or ultrasonography
  7. Bone marrow hypercellularity with megakaryocyte hyperplasia
  8. Presence of abnormal bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells as determined by the growth of endogenous erythroid cells and/or megakaryocyte colonies with increased sensitivity to IL-3
  9. Normal levels of CRP and IL-6
  10. Absence of iron deficiency anemia as documented by either a normal bone marrow–stainable iron or normal serum ferritin level
  11. In females, demonstration of clonal hematopoiesis by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of genes present on the X chromosome
Next

Imaging Studies

  • Perform an ultrasound of the abdomen if the existence of splenomegaly is uncertain.
Previous
Proceed to Treatment & Management
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Koyamangalath Krishnan, MD, FRCP, FACP  Paul Dishner Endowed Chair of Excellence in Medicine, Professor of Medicine and Chief of Hematology-Oncology, James H Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University

Koyamangalath Krishnan, MD, FRCP, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Society of Hematology, and Royal College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Devapiran Jaishankar, MBBS  Fellow, Division of Oncology, East Tennessee State University, James H Quillen College of Medicine

Devapiran Jaishankar, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and American Society of Hematology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Wadie F Bahou, MD  Chief, Division of Hematology, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Director, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Wadie F Bahou, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Hematology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Marcel E Conrad, MD  Distinguished Professor of Medicine (Retired), University of South Alabama College of Medicine

Marcel E Conrad, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Blood Banks, American Chemical Society, American College of Physicians, American Physiological Society, American Society for Clinical Investigation, American Society of Hematology, Association of American Physicians, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, International Society of Hematology, Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, and Southwest Oncology Group

Disclosure: No financial interests None None

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP  Southwest Medical Consultants, SC, Department of Medicine, Good Samaritan Hospital, Advocate Health Systems

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Emmanuel C Besa, MD  Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Kimmel Cancer Center, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University

Emmanuel C Besa, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Education, American College of Clinical Pharmacology, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and New York Academy of Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

  1. Vora AJ, Lilleyman JS. Secondary thrombocytosis. Arch Dis Child. Jan 1993;68(1):88-90. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  2. Mantadakis E, Tsalkidis A, Chatzimichael A. Thrombocytosis in childhood. Indian Pediatr. Aug 2008;45(8):669-77. [Medline].

  3. Mata Fernández C, Pérez-Miranda Castillo J, Galarón García P, Cela de Julián E, Beléndez Bieler C. [Thrombocytosis in the oncology-haematology clinic: description, aetiological diagnosis and progression thrombocytosis] [Spanish]. An Pediatr (Barc). Jul 2008;69(1):10-4. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  4. Hoffman R. Primary thrombocythemia. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ Jr, Shattil SJ, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone; 2000:1188-204.

  5. Hellmann A. Myeloproliferative syndromes: diagnosis and therapeutic options. Pol Arch Med Wewn. Dec 2008;118(12):756-60. [Medline].

  6. Tefferi A, Ho TC, Ahmann GJ, Katzmann JA, Greipp PR. Plasma interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels in reactive versus clonal thrombocytosis. Am J Med. Oct 1994;97(4):374-8. [Medline].

  7. Kutti J, Wadenvik H. Diagnostic and differential criteria of essential thrombocythemia and reactive thrombocytosis. Leuk Lymphoma. Sep 1996;22 suppl 1:41-5. [Medline].

  8. Araneda M, Krishnan V, Hall K, et al. Reactive and clonal thrombocytosis: proinflammatory and hematopoietic cytokines and acute phase proteins. South Med J. Apr 2001;94(4):417-20. [Medline].

  9. Haidopoulou K, Goutaki M, Lemonaki M, Kavga M, Papa A. Reactive thrombocytosis in children with viral respiratory tract infections. Minerva Pediatr. Aug 2011;63(4):257-62. [Medline].

  10. Indolfi G, Catania P, Bartolini E, et al. Incidence and clinical significance of reactive thrombocytosis in children aged 1 to 24 months, hospitalized for community-acquired infections. Platelets. Sep 2008;19(6):409-14. [Medline].

  11. Chiarello P, Magnolia M, Rubino M, Liguori SA, Miniero R. Thrombocytosis in children. Minerva Pediatr. Dec 2011;63(6):507-13. [Medline].

  12. Khan PN, Nair RJ, Olivares J, Tingle LE, Li Z. Postsplenectomy reactive thrombocytosis. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). Jan 2009;22(1):9-12. [Medline].

  13. Tsantes AE, Dimoula A, Bonovas S, Mantzios G, Tsirigotis P, Zoi K, et al. The role of the Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA)-100 and platelet aggregometry in the differentiation of essential thrombocythemia from reactive thrombocytosis. Thromb Res. Aug 5 2009;[Medline].

  14. Dame C, Sutor AH. Primary and secondary thrombocytosis in childhood. Br J Haematol. Apr 2005;129(2):165-77. [Medline].

  15. Birdane A, Haznedaroglu IC, Bavbek N, et al. The plasma levels of prostanoids and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in primary and secondary thrombocytosis. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. Apr 2005;11(2):197-201. [Medline].

  16. Chanet V, Tournilhac O, Dieu-Bellamy V, et al. Isolated spleen agenesis: a rare cause of thrombocytosis mimicking essential thrombocythemia. Haematologica. Nov 2000;85(11):1211-3. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  17. Frye JL, Thompson DF. Drug-induced thrombocytosis. J Clin Pharm Ther. Feb 1993;18(1):45-8. [Medline].

  18. Messinezy M, Westwood N, Sawyer B, et al. Primary thrombocythaemia: a composite approach to diagnosis. Clin Lab Haematol. Jun 1994;16(2):139-48. [Medline].

  19. Pearson TC. Diagnosis and classification of erythrocytoses and thrombocytoses. Baillieres Clin Haematol. Dec 1998;11(4):695-720. [Medline].

 
Previous
Next
 
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.