Essential Thrombocythaemia

1 medicine

Essential thrombocythaemia is a blood disorder in which the bone marrow produces too many platelets, raising the risk of clotting and bleeding, managed with cytoreductive therapy such as hydroxycarbamide.

Hydrea

Hydroxycarbamide

500mg

Hydrea is a oncology medication containing Hydroxycarbamide, available as 500mg tablets.

from $2.17 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Essential thrombocythaemia (ET) is a chronic bone marrow disorder in which the body produces far too many platelets, raising the risk of both clots and, paradoxically, abnormal bleeding.
  • Many people have no symptoms and are diagnosed incidentally on a routine blood count. When symptoms appear, they include headaches, visual disturbances, burning or tingling in the hands and feet, and unexplained bruising or nosebleeds.
  • For higher-risk individuals, treatment centres on cytoreduction, bringing the platelet count down with a medicine such as hydroxycarbamide.
  • Clotting events such as deep vein thrombosis or stroke are the most serious complication and need urgent medical attention.

What ET looks like and when to act

Many people with essential thrombocythaemia have no symptoms at all and are diagnosed incidentally on a routine blood count. When symptoms do appear they reflect the platelet excess: headaches, visual disturbances, burning or tingling in the hands and feet, and unexplained bruising or nosebleeds. Clotting events such as deep vein thrombosis or stroke are the most serious complication and require urgent medical attention.

Keeping platelet counts under control

For higher-risk individuals, the main goal of treatment is cytoreduction: bringing the platelet count down to a safer range. Hydroxycarbamide is the most widely used cytoreductive agent for ET and is backed by long-term safety data. It sits within the broader oncology category of medicines used for myeloproliferative conditions. Low-dose aspirin is often added alongside cytoreductive therapy to reduce clotting risk, though the choice depends on individual bleeding risk.

Living with ET

Regular blood count monitoring is central to living well with ET, since the platelet count guides dose adjustments over time. Report new headaches, visual changes, or numbness in the hands and feet promptly, and get urgent care for signs of a clot or stroke, such as sudden weakness, confusion, or leg swelling and pain.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.