Treatment of Essential Thrombocythemia

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

Treatment of essential thrombocythemia in patients younger than 60 years who have no signs or symptoms and an acceptable platelet count is usually watchful waiting. Treatment of other patients may include the following:

• Chemotherapy.
• Anagrelide therapy.
• Immunotherapy (interferon alfa or pegylated interferon alpha).
• Platelet apheresis.
• A clinical trial of a new treatment.

Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.