Abstract
Introduction
Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm marked by a paradoxical thrombotic and hemorrhagic risk, and rarely presents as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Prompt recognition is essential to guide tailored antithrombotic, cytoreductive, and thrombocytapheresis-based management.
Case Info
A 68-year-old man with hypertension presented with chest tightness and dyspnea. ECG showed anterior ST-elevation with troponin T of 1,000 ng/L, and platelets were 708,000/µL. After aspirin and clopidogrel loading, angiography revealed thrombi in the proximal LAD and mid RCA. LAD flow was restored with two drug-eluting stents. Echocardiography showed LVEF 40% with an apical thrombus, prompting heparin and guideline-directed medical therapy. Platelets rose to 1,055,000/µL, raising suspicion for ET, and hydroxyurea was started. CT was unremarkable. JAK2 mutation was detected, and marrow biopsy confirmed ET with hyperlobulated megakaryocytes, grade 1 reticulin fibrosis, and CD61 positivity. Despite cytoreduction, platelets escalated to 1,224,000/µL, above the threshold for acquired von Willebrand syndrome, prompting emergency thrombocytapheresis that achieved counts below 600,000/µL after four sessions. Staged RCA revascularization added three more stents, conferring high ischemic risk. Repeat echocardiography showed thrombus resolution and LVEF improvement to 46%. He completed one month of triple therapy, two months of vitamin K antagonist plus clopidogrel, then transitioned to indefinite clopidogrel and hydroxyurea, with no thrombotic or hemorrhagic events after one year.
Disc Clinical
Hypercoagulable states increasingly reflect acquired rather than inherited factors with advancing age, and myeloproliferative neoplasms are a key acquired driver of extreme, persistent thrombocytosis capable of triggering multivessel coronary thrombosis, distinguishing this presentation from reactive thrombocytosis, which rarely exceeds 1,000,000/µL. Diagnosis followed International Consensus Classification criteria: sustained platelet count above 450,000/µL, marrow megakaryocytic hyperplasia with hyperlobulated nuclei and grade 1 fibrosis, JAK2 mutation, and exclusion of reactive causes and other myeloproliferative neoplasms (polycythemia vera, chronic myeloid leukemia, primary myelofibrosis) through normal erythropoietin, cytogenetics, and marrow morphology. Platelet counts rising despite hydroxyurea prompted platelet-lowering apheresis, which lowers counts 30% to 60% per session toward a target below 600,000/µL and served as an effective bridge, allowing safe staged revascularization. Extreme thrombocytosis also unmasked acquired von Willebrand syndrome, reflected in impaired ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation and suboptimal P2Y12 inhibition, which required increasing the clopidogrel dose and underscores the paradoxical thrombotic-hemorrhagic balance inherent to this disease. The antithrombotic strategy followed a time-limited triple therapy transitioning to dual and then single antiplatelet therapy, consistent with contemporary acute coronary syndrome guidelines favoring bleeding-reduction strategies after percutaneous intervention. Evidence guiding anticoagulation duration for left ventricular thrombus is limited to expert consensus, and no dedicated data exist for essential thrombocythemia specifically, highlighting a persistent knowledge gap. This case reinforces that unexplained or refractory thrombocytosis accompanying acute coronary thrombosis warrants hematologic evaluation, and that management requires close cardiology-hematology collaboration to balance ischemic and hemorrhagic risk.
Conclusion
ET should be suspected in multivessel coronary thrombosis, and emergency thrombocytapheresis can serve as a critical bridge to safe revascularization when cytoreductive therapy alone is insufficient. Tailored antithrombotic therapy and multidisciplinary follow-up remain essential given ET's paradoxical thrombohemorrhagic risk.