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Semin Thromb Hemost 2006; 32(3): 246-250
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-939435
Copyright © 2006 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Influence of the Assays of Endogenous Colony Formation and Serum Erythropoietin on the Diagnosis of Polycythemia Vera and Essential Thrombocythemia

Pascal Mossuz1 , on behalf of the Groupe d'Etudes Multicentriques des Syndromes MyéloProlifératifs (GEMSMP)2
  • 1Laboratoire d'hématologie, CHU Grenoble, Grenoble, France
  • 2Laboratories of Hematology of Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Angers, France; CHU Bordeaux, France; CHU Clermont-Ferrand, France; CHU Dijon, France; CHU Grenoble, France; CHU Nancy, France; CHU Nantes, France
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Publication History

Publication Date:
02 May 2006 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Formation of endogenous erythroid colonies (EECs) or endogenous megakaryocytic colonies (EMCs) is a hallmark of myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs). The diagnostic value of EEC for polycythemia vera (PV) using standardized media has been demonstrated, and has led clinicians to consider EEC as a major diagnostic criterion in the WHO classification. The interest of EEC currently needs to be considered taking into account recent data about V617F JAK2 mutation in MPD. In particular, EECs and EMCs should be helpful for the diagnostic and the vascular risk evaluation of essential thrombocythemia (ET) and for mutation negative patients. A low serum erythropoietin (EPO) level is a consistent finding in PV. Recent studies have shown that commercial serum EPO assays provided a reliable, accurate, and low-cost criterion for the diagnosis of a significant proportion of PV. It suggests that diagnostic algorithms integrating serum EPO level could be elaborated. The diagnostic value of EPO assay for thrombocytosis has not been proved, but some data suggest a predictive value of low EPO levels for thrombosis in ET.

KEYWORDS

Erythropoietin - endogenous erythroid colonies (EECs) - endogenous megakaryocytic colonies (EMCs) - polycythemias - thrombocytosis

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Pascal MossuzM.D. 

Laboratoire d'hématologie, CHU Grenoble

BP217X, 38043 Grenoble Cedex, France

Email: PMossuz@chu-grenoble.fr

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