Prognostic implications of leg ulcers from hydroxycarbamide therapy in patients with essential thrombocythaemia.

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a clonal stem-cell disorder characterized by persistent thrombocytosis. Patients with ET and risk factors for thrombotic complications have been shown to benefit from cytoreductive therapy, the most common agent used being, hydroxycarbamide. Although this agent is usually well-tolerated, one of the recognized adverse effects is the development of leg ulcers. We undertook retrospective analysis of consecutive ET patients treated with hydroxcarbamide and identified several specific features for this complication including advanced age, female preponderance, reduced overall survival, tendency to develop future vascular events and intolerance to the second line agent, anagrelide.