My Platelets go down during the warmer months...

[Plateletsgonewild]

Hello everyone, I am new here--diagnosed in 2018 with JAK2+ ET, platelets currently in the low 600's. Here is my question: every year since I was diagnosed my platelets are much better in my May and September labs and then are much higher in December and March. For example, I was at 506 in September and then 657 in December, so a significant change. I am not on aspirin or clopidogril because I am also CKIT D816v positive and my mast cells tend to cause alarming reactions to most drugs. My current hematologist said she does not recommend Hydrea for this reason. Anyone else with ET have this pattern? My searches on this subject led me to 2 possibilities, one having to do with Vitamin D and the other possibility is that heat can cause lower platelets. I live in New Mexico and summers here are quite hot and getting hotter. The hematologists I've been to have nothing to add apart from "Huh. That's interesting."

[Rem31]

Mine are usually higher around March. It took maybe 4 years of increased platelets around then to put two and two together and recognise that I have a very mild allergy to something that flowers in early Spring. It’s just happened again and was reflected in my recent FBC/CBC even though my symptoms were barely noticeable.

[Plateletsgonewild in reply to Rem31]

Thanks--it's helpful to know others have noticed this too.

[Tintins]

I have noticed a similar trend with my platelet levels. I have Calr ET(2013) and consistently note a change. Higher in January/February and lower results by 100 May onwardsuntil mid autumn . This is over several years. Perhaps there are more colds etc around in winter or I spend more time inside. Will wait and see if it happens again this year!

[Plateletsgonewild in reply to Tintins]

My primary doctor said she notices her autoimmune patients always do worse in the cold months which she attributes to cold causing more inflammation. I wish there was some intel though that is actionable! Like what if I got a sauna or cranked up the heat...

[Tintins in reply to Plateletsgonewild]

Thank you, this is very interesting. I have an autoimmune condition of the thyroid, Hashimoto disease. The two maybe linked. Perhaps I should visit my friend in the Canary Islands more often in the winter months!

[dogsandhorses]

I have ET. My nephew has PV, and his wife is a nurse. He does venesections primarily. He has had stem cell therapy for it at MD Anderson, and loads Vitamin D. Their research has shown that Vitamin D has some benefits for MPN's. So having your counts improve in the sunny months may make sense. There is probably something to it that a researcher could grab onto if there was enough money in it!

[Plateletsgonewild]

I hear you! Seems like an inexpensive supplement without side effects should be a compelling direction for research.