Aspirin cures erythromelalgia and cerebrovascular disturbances in JAK2-thrombocythemia through platelet-cycloxygenase inhibition

Figure 11 Results of treatment in 13 patients with primary or essential thrombocythemia and 13 patients with polycythemia vera and thrombocythemia. Source Michiels et al[53], 1985. Busulfan induced remission of thrombocythemia (platelet counts < 350 × 10⁹/L) lasted 2 to 9 years (long busulfan remitters) in essential thrombocythemia (ET) patients, which became asymptomatic with no recurrence of erythromelalgia after discontinuation of aspirin during thrombocythemia remission periods of 2 to 9 years (R). Erythromelalgia recurred in eight [5 ET, 3 polycythemia vera (PV)] of twelve (8ET, 4PV) at platelet counts between 400 to 550 × 10⁹/L (P) after thrombocythemia remission periods of 2 to 8 years. Busulfan induced remissions of thrombocythemia in the majority of PV patients lasted several months to a few years (short buslfan remittors) indicating the need to treat with repeated courses of busulfan.