[Dysmegakaryocytopoiesis and dysthrombopoiesis in myeloproliferative syndromes].

Megakaryocyte proliferation in bone marrow is a feature common to the three Philadelphia negative chromosome myeloproliferative disorders (MPD)--essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera, and myelofibrosis with splenic myeloid metaplasia--and chronic myelocytic leukemia. Enlarged megakaryocytes, clustering in close neighbouring with multilobulated nuclei are the hallmark of all the Philadelphia negative chromosome MPD. Clonality of hematopoietic cells, based on X-chromosome inactivation can now be studied in a majority of female patients in all nucleated cell fractions as well as in platelets. A significant increase in circulating CFU-MK has been repeatedly observed in MPD as well as a spontaneous megakaryocyte colony formation in a majority of ET patients. Hypersensitivity to thrombopoietin (TPO) in relation with a functional defect of the TPO-MPL pathway may play a major role in spontaneous megakaryocyte growth. There is presently no currently available test of platelet functions able to predict the risk of occurrence of thrombotic or haemorrhagic complications in MPD patients. However the role of platelets activation in the pathogenesis of ischemic erythromelalgia has been established.