Oxidative Stress Levels, JAK2V617F Mutational Status and Thrombotic Complications in Patients with Essential Thrombocythemia

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a BCR-ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm associated with thrombotic and haemorrhagic complications. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) overexpression induces a growth advantage to JAK2V617F-positive clones and, in association with a higher number of immature platelets, leukocytosis, and additional cardiovascular risk factors, leads to an increased risk for thrombotic events. We evaluated oxidative stress by measuring ROS levels and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in 62 ET patients and investigated the relationship between oxidative stress, JAK2V617F mutational status and the development of thrombotic events. We found higher oxidative stress levels in JAK2V617F-positive vs. JAK2V617F-negative ET cases with no significant differences between homozygous and heterozygous genotypes. Increased ROS levels and thrombotic events were more frequent in ET patients with old age at diagnosis, higher haematocrit levels or leukocytosis.