Blood Res.  2025;60:48. 10.1007/s44313-025-00098-y.

Progression of carotid plaque burden in patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia

• Kwon S
• Jeong S
• Lee M
• Kim K
• Lee N
• Won J
• Yoon S

• KMID: 2571439
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s44313-025-00098-y

Abstract

Purpose
Prevention of vascular events is the main objective in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) or essential thrombocythemia (ET). Carotid ultrasonography (USG) is a safe and noninvasive diagnostic tool that can be used to stratify cardiovascular and stroke risks. In our previous study, carotid plaque burden was significantly higher in patients with PV/ET than in the general population. This study aimed to determine changes in carotid plaques in patients with PV/ET.
Methods
We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of patients with ET/PV who had undergone carotid USG at least twice.
Results
Of the 56 patients, 30 had PV and 26 had ET. The carotid plaque score was increased in the follow-up carotid USG compared with that in the initial carotid USG (3.38 ± 1.47 vs. 3.73 ± 1.46, p = 0.0139). The carotid plaque burden at the time of follow-up carotid USG showed no significant differences in patients with a complete hematologic response (CHR); however, it significantly worsened in patients who failed to achieve CHR.
Conclusion
We confirmed that the carotid plaque burden persisted during follow-up in patients with PV/ET. A CHR may prevent an increase in carotid plaque burden.

Keyword

Essential thrombocythemia; Polycythemia vera; Carotid plaque burden

Reference

References

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