Peripheral circulatory disorders in essential thrombocythemia

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Hematology
• Medical Physiology

Background:

• Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is associated with symptoms affecting the extremities, such as paresthesias and Raynaud's phenomenon.
• Understanding the underlying peripheral circulation abnormalities in ET is crucial for managing patient symptoms and preventing complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and characterize peripheral circulation in the upper extremities of patients diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia.
• To compare vascular parameters between ET patients and a healthy control group.

Main Methods:

• Employed a combination of non-invasive techniques: thermography, photoplethysmography, impedance plethysmography, and applanation tonometry pulse wave analysis.
• Evaluated 45 patients with ET and 30 healthy control subjects.

Main Results:

• ET patients demonstrated significantly lower 3rd finger skin temperature and a reduced skin temperature gradient compared to controls.
• Photoplethysmographic amplitude was markedly lower in ET patients, indicating reduced peripheral blood flow.
• Analysis revealed a higher prevalence of specific pulse waveform types (Type B) in the radial artery of ET patients.
• Pulse wave parameters showed a correlation with the skin temperature gradient, suggesting impaired vascular regulation.

Conclusions:

• Essential thrombocythemia is associated with altered peripheral circulation regulation in the upper extremities.
• Findings suggest a pattern of decreased blood flow and increased vascular resistance in ET patients.
• These vascular changes may contribute to the symptomatic presentation of extremities in ET.