Is prolonged thrombocytosis a sign of leukemia?

Platelets are blood cells that play a role in blood clotting, preventing the risk of uncontrolled bleeding. Thrombocytosis is a condition in which the number of platelet cells increases abnormally, exceeding the normal limit of 450,000 cells/mcL. The disease includes primary thrombocytosis and secondary thrombocytosis.

Secondary thrombocytosis is not a blood cancer, while primary thrombocytosis belongs to the group of myeloproliferative diseases, which can be called pre-leukemia. This condition occurs due to excessive proliferation of platelet progenitor cells in the bone marrow (which produce many platelets and release them into the peripheral blood).

Some cases of primary thrombocytosis can originate from gene mutations such as JAK2 (controls the production of blood cells by stem cells), CARL (creates proteins involved in regulating gene activity), MPL (potential cancer risk)… increases the production of platelet sample cells in the bone marrow, leading to an uncontrolled increase in platelet count.

Primary thrombocytosis tends to be chronic and develops slowly. If diagnosed and treated promptly, the disease can be controlled, limiting the risk of progression to leukemia.

The goals of treating primary thrombocytosis often focus on controlling symptoms and reducing platelet counts. Doctors can give patients low-dose aspirin, thrombocytopenic drugs, platelet apheresis…

You should check to determine primary or secondary thrombocytosis, and then have appropriate treatment.

Each person should have regular health checks, maintain a scientific lifestyle, exercise physically, eat enough nutrition, get enough sleep, not smoke, avoid stimulant abuse… to improve overall health. People whose families have primary platelet disease should have DNA testing to be able to early detect mutated genes related to the risk of the disease.