A rare presentation of essential thrombocytosis masked as vasculitis

This case study presents the clinical journey of a 37-year-old woman who previously experienced gangrene in her fingers and toes. Initial assessments revealed elevated total white blood cell count and platelets, coupled with low hemoglobin levels. Despite normal inflammatory markers and negative results for antiphospholipid syndrome, antinuclear antibodies, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, arterial Doppler imaging displayed no abnormalities. Suspecting vasculitis, the patient was initially treated with steroids and aspirin. However, subsequent investigations revealed essential thrombocytosis, a myeloproliferative disorder, confirmed by a positive JAK2 gene mutation. This case underscores the complexity of diagnosing rare hematological disorders and the importance of comprehensive evaluations for accurate treatment strategies.