Medical

Appointment with the haematologist this afternoon. As we already knew, the JAK2 blood test was negative but there is a C-MPL W515 genetic abnormality that showed up. The platelet count dropped from 950 in the second last test to 600 in the penultimate test but was up to 794 in the last test compared with 150-450 normal. The C-MPL W515 mutation is highly correlated with primary thrombocythaemia, but the symptoms indicate an overlap syndrome betweem Myeloproliferative disorder (MPD) and Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

This is considered to be an indolent form of blood cancer, which nevertheless carries a high risk for patients with one or more named characteristics including age greater than 60; platelet count over 1,000; history of ischaemia, and hypertension. If untreated it can lead to stroke; the clotting of big stomach vessels, or plaque rupture in patients with arteriosclerosis, so controlling platelets is a good idea. The consultant prescribed a small dose of hydroxycarbamide, the effects of which on the platelet count will be assessed when we come back from Brittany on August 19.