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Published on: February 16, 2011
Acute splenic infarction presenting as an unusual manifestation of essential thrombocythaemia with normal platelet
Katsuyuki Yoshida1, Ibuki Kurihara1, Takahiko Fukuchi1
1Division of General Medicine, Department of Comprehensive Medicine 1, Jichi Ika Daigaku Fuzoku Saitama Iryo Center, Saitama, Japan.
Essential thrombocythaemia (ET) is characterised by elevated platelet count by a clonal stem cell disorder of megakaryocytes. Although thrombosis is a common complication of ET, splenic infarction (SI) is extremely rare. Here, we present the case of a 31-year-old Japanese man who presented with sudden-onset severe pain at the left hypochondrium on the day before admission. Enhanced abdominal CT revealed SI. The laboratory test results revealed a normal platelet count (439×109/L). Subsequently, the patient was diagnosed with ET because the platelet count gradually increased to 50.0×104/μL, and JAK2 V617F mutation was identified. Accordingly, low-dose aspirin was initiated, and no thrombotic episode occurred. Nevertheless, 6 months postdischarge, the platelet count gradually increased to >650 × 109/L, and anagrelide was initiated. This case demonstrates an unusual complication of acute SI due to ET under the rare situation of the normal platelet count.
Essential thrombocythaemia (ET) is characterised by elevated platelet count by a clonal stem cell disorder of megakaryocytes. Although thrombosis is a common complication of ET, splenic infarction (SI) is extremely rare. Here, we present the case of a 31-year-old Japanese man who presented with sudden-onset severe pain at the left hypochondrium on the day before admission. Enhanced abdominal CT revealed SI. The laboratory test results revealed a normal platelet count (439×109/L). Subsequently, the patient was diagnosed with ET because the platelet count gradually increased to 50.0×104/μL, and JAK2 V617F mutation was identified. Accordingly, low-dose aspirin was initiated, and no thrombotic episode occurred. Nevertheless, 6 months postdischarge, the platelet count gradually increased to >650 × 109/L, and anagrelide was initiated. This case demonstrates an unusual complication of acute SI due to ET under the rare situation of the normal platelet count.
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