Immune thrombocytopenic purpura with subsequent development of JAK2 V617F-positive essential thrombocythemia: Case Report

The sequential occurrence of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) and Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) has been reported in the literature on a few occasions, as these are two hematologic disorders with distinct etiologies and patients usually have contrasting clinical presentations. Our case highlights the sequential occurrence of ITP, followed by Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) (V617F)-positive ET in a 64-year-old white woman, after four years of follow-up. The pathophysiology relating to these two conditions is incompletely understood, however, JAK2(V617F) mutation has been found in all the cases reported. Early identifi cation of JAK2(V617F) mutation in a patient with a past medical history of ITP and presenting with thrombocytosis, may lead to a prompt diagnosis of ET and timely treatment initiation. Case Report Immune thrombocytopenic purpura with subsequent development of JAK2 V617F-positive essential thrombocythemia: Case Report Marisabel Hurtado-Castillo1*, Brian Flaherty2 and Morris Jrada2 1PGY-3, Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine at NYU, Brooklyn, NY, USA 2Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Brooklyn, NY, USA Received: 13 July, 2021 Accepted: 03 August, 2021 Published: 04 August, 2021 *Corresponding author: Marisabel Hurtado-Castillo, PGY-3, Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine at NYU, 536 Ovington Avenue Apartment 3, Brooklyn NYC 11209, USA, Tel: 718-312-9641; Email:


Introduction
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune pathology caused by autoantibodies directed against glycoproteins on the platelet surface causing peripheral destruction of platelets. Primary ITP is defi ned as isolated thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100 × 10 9 /L) in the absence of other causes or disorders that may be associated with thrombocytopenia. Secondary ITP is defi ned as any form of ITP other than primary; these might include thrombocytopenia, secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, HIV, hepatitis C, or Helicobacter pylori infection [1]. Clinical presentation can be characterized by bruises following minor trauma, oral hemorrhagic bullae, epistaxis, gastrointestinal bleeding, conjunctival hemorrhage, or hematuria. Management depends on the severity of thrombocytopenia and bleeding. Treatment with glucocorticoids is indicated in all patients who present with bleeding and those with platelet counts less than 20 × and Primary Myelofi brosis (PMF) [3]. ET is characterized by a sustained increase in platelet number greater than 450 × 10 9 /L and tendency for thromboembolism. ET is also a diagnosis of exclusion, ruling out reactive (or secondary) thrombocytosis is essential, as this is the most common cause of thrombocytosis.
Once reactive thrombocytosis is ruled out, a further diagnostic workup for ET is recommended. Testing can start with peripheral-blood screening to detect driver mutations, The detection of a driver mutation confi rms the presence of a myeloid neoplasm, but the absence does not rule out this possibility because 10% of patients with ET can be triple-negative JAK2(V617F) mutation is present in around half of the patients with ET and divides the disease into two subtypes, V617F-positive and V617F-negative. ET treatment varies depending on patient age and driver mutation detected.
In patients younger than 60 years old, without history of thrombosis or major bleeding and with platelet count less than 150 × 10 9 /L, low-dose aspirin is recommended only when JAK2 (V617F) mutation is detested or if CALR exon 9 mutation is detected and the patient also have at least 1 concomitant cardiovascular risk factor and/or with microvascular symptoms.
By contrast, in patients older than 60 years old and/or history of thrombosis or major bleeding and/or with platelet count ≥ 150 × 10 9 /L, low-dose aspirin and cytoreductive therapy with interferon  or hydroxyurea is recommended regardless of the mutation status [4][5][6].
The sequential occurrence of two different types of platelet disorder as ITP and ET is rarely reported in the literature [7][8][9][10].
We report a case report JAK2(V617F)-positive ET in a patient previously diagnosed with ITP, after four years of follow-up.  [9,10]. The pathophysiology relating to these two conditions is incompletely understood, however, JAK2(V617F) mutation has been found in all the cases reported. JAK2(V617F) mutations constitutively activate JAK2, which in turn induces dysregulated phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 and 5 (STAT3 and STAT5) [11].

Case presentation
The STAT5 pathway plays a critical role in the function and development of regulatory T cells (Tregs) [12]. Treg cells prevent autoimmune diseases by suppressing self-reactive T helper (Th) cells by several mechanisms including cytolysis, metabolic disruption, and production of inhibitory cytokines [13]. Therefore, consistently activated STAT5 is associated with a suppression in antitumor immunity and induces the cell Authors suggested that JAK2(V617F) mutation and constitutive activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway might also affect DC differentiation, conducting to the production of antiplatelet autoantibodies which is a key pathogenetic mechanism of ITP.
Further studies might be warranted to understand any potential similar pathogenetic mechanism between ITP and ET.

Conclusion
This case highlights a patient with a history of ITP presenting with thrombocytosis after four years of followup. It is imperative doing an early comprehensive workup of patients who present with isolated thrombocytosis. Once reactive thrombocytosis is ruled out, patients should be tested for JAK2(V617F), CALR exon 9, and MPL exon 10 mutations, and bone marrow biopsy and aspiration should be performed.
Early identifi cation of JAK2(V617F) mutation in a patient with a history of ITP and presenting with thrombocytosis, may lead to a prompt diagnosis of ET and timely treatment initiation.

Data availability
The data used to support the fi ndings of this study are available from the authors upon request.