J Korean Geriatr Soc.  2003 Jun;7(2):159-163.

Cerebral Infarction in Essential Thrombocythemia after Discontinuation of Hydroxyurea

• Kim JM
• Cho EK
• Han YS
• Han JH
• Kim DE

Abstract

Abnormalities in the number and function of platelets may contribute to thromboembolic complications in patients with essential thrombocythemia(ET). Physicians often use hydroxyurea which reduces the platelet count for the initial treatment of ET. A 74-year-old man with ET was presented with headache, dysarthria, and right hemiparesis 10 months after discontinuation of hydroxyurea. Initial platelet count was 450x103/microliter and we gave him heparin. However, his platelet count rised upto 1,019x103/microliter within 4 days. He was on hydroxyurea 1.5 g/day and his symptoms improved with decrease of platelet count. We report a case of left MCA(middle cerebral artery) multifocal infarction in ET after discontinuation of hydroxyurea.

Keyword

Hydroxyurea; Essential thrombocythemia; Cerebral infarctio

MeSH Terms

Aged
Cerebral Infarction*
Dysarthria
Headache
Heparin
Humans
Hydroxyurea*
Infarction
Paresis
Platelet Count
Thrombocythemia, Essential*
Heparin
Hydroxyurea