Peripheral gangrene in a child as a result of Primary Thrombocytosis

Essential Thrombocytosis (ET) is a clonal disorder of unknown etiology involving a multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cell and is manifested clinically by the overproduction of platelets without a definable cause. Clinically, ET is most often identified incidentally when a platelet count is obtained during the course of routine evaluation. There are very few case reports in the pediatric age group in which peripheral gangrene is caused by primary thrombocytosis or essential thrombocythemia. This is a case report of a 5 year old male child who presented to us as peripheral gangrene of toes which was caused by ET, one of the Myeloproloferrative disorders. KEYWORDS : Essential thrombocythemia; Gangrene, Myeloproliferative disorder; Primary thrombocytosis Internet Journal of Medical Update 2012 January;7(1):70-72