Further medical

Friday: an appointment at 11.30 with Dr M in haematology outpatients this morning following yet another blood test. He said that the JAK2 test had been negative, but there was a C-MPL mutation which is associated with myeloproliferative disorders. Platelet counts were 930 on June 10 and 850 on June 24, and he wanted to be certain this wasn't due to iron deficiency, which needs a further blood test. The last time iron had been looked at was in 2007 when it was normal. In June 2010 serum iron was low, but ferritin also needs to be checked. (Ferritin is an ubiquitous intracellular protein that stores iron and releases it in a controlled fashion. The amount of Ferritin stored reflects the amount of iron stored. The protein is produced by almost all living organisms, including bacteria, algae and higher plants, and animals. In humans, it acts as a buffer against iron deficiency and iron overload).

My diagnosis so far: this is probably essential thrombocytosis, not reactive thrombocytosis, because I'm not aware of any spleen malfunction or iron deficiency. This points to a myoproliferative disorder, a group of diseases of the bone marrow which are classified within the hematological neoplasms.

As I was checking the June 25 date for the bone marrow biopsy suggested by Dr M, he came out to the desk and said the result of the blood test just undertaken had come through, and since the platelet count was now 1031, he would like the biopsy brought forward to July 19 at 09.30, with a further consultation on July 29.