Immune thrombocytopenic purpura with subsequent development of JAK2 V617F-positive essential thrombocythemia: Case Report

Abstract

The sequential occurrence of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) and Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) has been reported in the literature on a few occasions, as these are two hematologic disorders with distinct etiologies and patients usually have contrasting clinical presentations. Our case highlights the sequential occurrence of ITP, followed by Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) (V617F)-positive ET in a 64-year-old white woman, after four years of follow-up. The pathophysiology relating to these two conditions is incompletely understood, however, JAK2(V617F) mutation has been found in all the cases reported. Early identifi cation of JAK2(V617F) mutation in a patient with a past medical history of ITP and presenting with thrombocytosis, may lead to a prompt diagnosis of ET and timely treatment initiation.

Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia and Essential Thrombocythemia: So Different and yet Somehow Similar—Cases Series and a Review of the Literature

“…We have identified in the literature five cases of ITP with subsequent development of ET (group 1, Table 1) [1][2][3][4][5]. ET was diagnosed several years after ITP (3.5, 4, 7, 13, and 21 years, respectively).…”

“…In the past few years several cases of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) which developed into essential thrombocythemia (ET), and in some instances, cases with ET followed by ITP have been reported [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”