Haemorrhagic Thrombocythaemia

Abstract

Summary A case of apparent essential thrombocythaemia haemorrhagica is presented. Treatment with tri-ethylene-melamine “uncovered” an underlying polycythaemia vera. Clinical bleeding occurred during a phase of thrombocythaemia and cerebral thrombosis when the platelet count returned to normal. It is suggested that the haemorrhagic manifestations were caused in this case by the combined action of the cellular anticoagulant effect of excessive numbers of platelets and a circulating anticoagulant.