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Neurological complications of essential thrombocytosis (ET)
1Department of Neurology, Meir General Hospital and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. kesler@netvision.net.il
Objective:
To evaluate the prevalence of neurological abnormalities in patients with ET and attempt to identify risk factors for neurological complications.
Method:
Ninety-five patient charts were reviewed from January 1983-July 1999. Seventy patients fulfilled the Polycythemia Vera Study Group criteria for diagnosing ET.
Results:
Eighteen patients (25.7%) had episodes of neurological impairment, 52 (74.3%) had none. Neurological features-- occlusive cerebrovascular event-9; chronic headache-3 and dizziness-3, mononeuritis multiplex, sinus vein thrombosis and epilepsy-1 each. The interval between diagnosis of ET and occurrence of neurological events ranged from time of presentation (10 patients) to 13 years (1 patient) with a high predominance of females, 88.8% and 55%, respectively.
Conclusions:
Neurological complications occurred at presentation or during follow-up in approximately 25% of patients with ET. Our observation suggests that further investigation focusing on the possible mechanisms for neurological deficits in females with ET should be considered.