Template bleeding time and clinical hemorrhage in myeloproliferative disease

In 32 patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), correlations were made among clinical observations of hemorrhagic tendency, template Ivy bleeding time, and platelet aggregation studies. Bleeding time was commonly prolonged, particularly in myelofibrosis. In two cases, this prolongation appeared to reflect a defect in platelet function, which resulted in clinical bleeding. Prolongation of bleeding time did not correlate with degree of thrombocytosis. Two patients with thrombocytosis had serious clinical bleeding at a time when bleeding time was normal. Of the patients, 35% had abnormal findings from aggregation studies, but there was no correlation between aggregation studies and prolongation of bleeding time or clinical hemorrhage. We conclude that bleeding in MPD arises either from a defect in platelet function, which is reflected in a prolonged bleeding time, or from thrombocytosis.