Profound thrombocytosis in a patient with iron-lack anemia

Platelet counts in excess of 1 million/cu mm are generally associated with a primary hematologic disorder such as a myeloproliferative syndrome. We describe a patient whose thrombocytosis (platelet count 1.6 million) was due solely to iron lack, and whose platelet count rapidly returned to normal with iron repletion. Clinicians are encouraged to consider reactive causes of thrombocytosis when evaluating platelet counts in excess of 1 million.