Essential thrombocythemia and coronary artery disease

Percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with essential thrombocythemia: case reports and literature review

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) can cause systemic vascular thrombosis, but the involvement of coronary arteries is rare. This study is aimed to analyze the characteristics, treatment, and prognosis during follow-up in patients with ET after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of eight patients with ET who had coronary heart disease and treated with PCI in our hospital from 2012 to 2018 were retrospectively studied. The basic clinical information with clinical data, data of coronary intervention, application of anti-platelet and platelet reducing drugs, and the results of long-term follow-up were recorded. There were five males and three females with a median age of 67 years. Clinical presentation was unstable angina in four cases, stable angina in one case, ST-elevation myocardial infarction in two cases, and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction in one case. The average platelet count was 722 × 10⁹/L in admission, and hydroxyurea was used in seven cases. Coronary angiography suggested that all eight cases were single-vessel lesion. All the patients received PCI treatment, and Drug-eluting stent (DES) was used in all cases. Six were treated with one stent, one was treated with two stents and one was treated with three stents. After PCI, aspirin, and clopidogrel (or ticagrelor) were used in all cases. During the follow-up, one developed stent thrombus 2 months later, two developed stent restenosis 1 year later. In conclusion, PCI is an effective method of revascularization in patients with ET; but it may be associated with a higher rate of complications including stent thrombus and restenosis.

Aggressive antiplatelet therapy before coronary stent implantation in acute coronary syndrome with essential thrombocythemia--a case report

A 52-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of unstable angina pectoris. Coronary angiography revealed severe stenosis at a proximal site of the left anterior descending artery. Essential thrombocythemia (ET) was diagnosed on the basis of findings of marked thrombocytosis (106 x 10(4)/microL) and an increased number of immature megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. Because hyperaggregability of platelets was demonstrated by an ex vivo platelet aggregation assay and by elevated plasma levels of beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4), antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and ticlopidine and cytoreduction therapy with hydroxyurea were started. This combination treatment resulted in a decrease in the platelet count to less than 60 x 10(4)/microL and decreases in plasma levels of both beta-TG and PF4 to almost normal values. Percutaneous coronary angioplasty and stenting were then performed successfully without thrombotic complications. These findings suggest that combination therapy with antiplatelet and cytoreduction agents before catheter intervention is useful for the prevention of thrombotic complications in patients with acute coronary syndrome associated with essential thrombocythemia.

Acute coronary occlusion and in-stent thrombosis in a patient with essential thrombocythemia

We describe a case of essential thrombocythemia in a 34-year-old male who presented with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction and a platelet count of 2,100,000/mm3. Primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty and stenting were performed. Postangioplasty course was complicated by stent thrombosis requiring repeat coronary angioplasty and persistent femoral arterial bleeding that was treated with surgical exploration and repair. The patient was subsequently treated with platelet pheresis, acetylsalicylic acid, ticlopidine, hydroxyurea, and anagrelide without further complications.

[A case of coronary artery bypass surgery using left internal thoracic artery and right gastroepiploic artery for a patient with essential thrombocythemia]

The 78-year-old male underwent coronary angiography because of angina pectoris. He was revealed to have essential thrombocythemia with a platelet count of over 1,000,000/mm3. Essential thrombocythemia belongs to the group of chronic myeloproliferative disorders. It displays both thrombogenic and bleeding tendency due to the increased platelet count, as well as to dysfunction. CABG was performed using the left internal thoracic artery and the right gastroepiploic artery. Hydroxycarbamide was taken to regulate the platelet count before surgery. There was no difficulty with hemostasis during surgery. Warfarin and hydroxycarbamide were used as anticoagulant therapies after surgery. Postoperative CAG demonstrated both grafts to be patients. The patient remained in good condition until he died suddenly on the 159th postoperative day. The cause of death was not clear because no autopsy was carried out. The death may have been associated with a thromboembolism, acute graft thrombosis or cerebral infarction, or pulmonary embolism. This patient did not take antiplatelet drugs because the platelet count and prothrombin time was well controlled. Nonetheless, an antiplatelet agent might reduce the risk of thromboembolism in such patients. It is suggested that meticulous anticoagulation therapy must be important for a patient with essential thrombocythemia, especially in the postoperative period.

Coronary artery bypass grafting for left main trunk coronary artery lesion associated with essential thrombocythemia

Effort angina due to left main trunk (LMT) lesion was diagnosed in a 58-year-old man. Platelet count was markedly increased and essential thrombocythemia was also diagnosed. Because of LMT disease, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was performed prior to medication for essential thrombocythemia. There were no complications during the operation or in the early postoperative period. Melphalan was administered postoperatively resulting in the decrease of platelet count. Postoperative coronary angiography demonstrated that both grafts were patent; however, immediately after coronary angiography, the patient suffered from a sudden onset of myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction. The therapeutic problems associated with hematological disorder in such patients are discussed in this report.

Essential thrombocythemia associated with angina pectoris with unusual coronary artery findings

A case of ET associated with angina pectoris is presented. Angiography showed a 3.0-cm long mosaic-like thrombus shadow consisting of small filling defects in the proximal left anterior descending artery. The lesion could not be reduced with warfarin, ticlopidine, trapidil, urokinase or melphalan. Coronary artery bypass grafting was performed successfully.