Diagnosis: Secondary Thrombocytosis
• Thrombocytosis is associated with myeloproliferative disorders such as chronic myelogenous leukemia, polycythemia vera, and essential thrombocytosis.
• Secondary thrombocytosis is a reactive response to bacterial and viral infection, surgery, trauma, iron deficiency, and inflammatory states.
• Other causes of secondary thrombocytosis include rebound after chemotherapy or splenectomy.
• Secondary thrombocytosis rarely requires intervention because it is not associated with an increased risk of thrombosis.
• Because they are associated with an increased risk of thrombosis, high platelet counts in patients with primary thrombocytosis are treated with cytoreductive therapy (e.g., hydroxyurea), aspirin, and/or plateletpheresis.
