Dr. Gabriela Hobbs from the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute explains that
essential thrombocythemia (
ET) is one of the most common
myeloproliferative neoplasms (
MPNs), affecting the blood cells called
platelets, which help with clotting. In ET, the bone marrow produces too many platelets, sometimes along with changes in other blood counts. She explains that ET is caused by
acquired genetic mutations in blood-forming stem cells, meaning they develop during a person's life and are not inherited. These mutations send incorrect signals to the bone marrow, leading to ongoing
platelet overproduction.
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