low wbc

[Gordem100]

asking out of interest- my sons friend (18) is being investigated for low WBC - his dad died 7 yrs ago and had PV ( literally found this out today but knowing his history don’t think was the cause but may contributed- who knows) Is there any correlation that anyone knows - my son was diagnosed with ET early this year

[hunter5582]

It is hard to be sure about your son's friend without knowing his diagnosis. It is known that MPNs can cluster in families. There is data on Familial MPNs in the literature. The short version is that while the JAK2 mutation is acquired rather than germline, the predisposition to acquiring the JAK2 mutation may be inherited.

The leukopenia your son's friend is experiencing may not be related to MPNs but the fact that his father had PV may be related. It is certainly something to be investigated.

Please do let us know what you learn and how her gets on.

[MaggieSylvie]

It's always been said that blood cancers are not hereditary, but so many people seem to be able to point to their parents having them, that I think it is what's called a sweeping generalisation. Children of people who have or have had a blood cancer should surely be tested - at what stage of life I am not qualified to suggest, but there is an argument that it should happen.