[Primary thrombocythemia. A review of the literature and description of a clinical case].

After a short historical introduction the paper examines the definition and the pathogenesis of primary thrombocythemia before describing the clinical and hematological picture both in its peripheral aspects and with regard to the bone marrow. It also considers the alterations to the blood chemical parameters, the hemostasis tests and the karyotype. Differential diagnosis from secondary thrombocythemias and other chronic myeloproliferative syndromes is then discussed. After describing the natural history of primary thrombocythemia and reviewing its complications, survival rate and the causes of death the paper gives details of the existing therapeutic possibilities both the physical and pharmacological. Finally it reports a case of primary thrombocythemia presenting certain unusual features.