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Has anyone had a total knee replacement that also has JAK2?

Posted by chuckma @chuckma, Dec 29, 2024

I was diagnosed with JAK 2 about two year ago - platelet count was around 750,000. I have been taking hydroxyrurea (500mg) daily and have the platelet count down to around 425000. High platelet make ne susceptible to blood clots. I also need to have left knee replacement as it is a Grade 4 deterioration. Bone on bone. I am 78 and still get about 3.40 miles on the treadmill every day and stay active. Get periodic pain in the knee. I am concerned about going into surgery with my platelet count. Orthopedic surgeon said that they will just give me a lot of anticoagulants. Not sure that is the right answer. Wont i likely bleed to death?

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bshattuck138 | @bshattuck138 | 6 days ago

Slightly different scenario but thought I'd pass it along. My 72 year old wife had a total knee replacement in July of 2024. She was diagnosed with ET/Jak2 in September but I'm sure she had ET during the surgery, she just wasn't on the Hydrea at the time. Her platelets at the time of surgery were 520,000 and had been steadily rising for more than a year. We didn't pick up the issue until further blood tests. The surgeon was aware of the platelet count but not sure what they did for anticoagulants during the surgery. I do know that she was told to be on a baby aspirin daily after the surgery.
Perhaps it would be prudent to have your surgeon reach out to your oncologist so they are both on the same page. ps. Surgery went well. She isn't running anymore, after a life time of marathons and half ironman tris but she is still very active. Best of luck on your surgery.

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1 reply
chuckma | @chuckma | 6 days ago
In reply to @bshattuck138 "Slightly different scenario but thought I'd pass it along. My 72 year old wife had a..." + (show)
@bshattuck138

Slightly different scenario but thought I'd pass it along. My 72 year old wife had a total knee replacement in July of 2024. She was diagnosed with ET/Jak2 in September but I'm sure she had ET during the surgery, she just wasn't on the Hydrea at the time. Her platelets at the time of surgery were 520,000 and had been steadily rising for more than a year. We didn't pick up the issue until further blood tests. The surgeon was aware of the platelet count but not sure what they did for anticoagulants during the surgery. I do know that she was told to be on a baby aspirin daily after the surgery.
Perhaps it would be prudent to have your surgeon reach out to your oncologist so they are both on the same page. ps. Surgery went well. She isn't running anymore, after a life time of marathons and half ironman tris but she is still very active. Best of luck on your surgery.

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Thank you for your input. I'm glad the surgery went well and that she is still active. My oncologist said he would work with the surgeon. They both come across as its no big deal - and maybe it isn't.

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1 reply
bshattuck138 | @bshattuck138 | 6 days ago
In reply to @chuckma "Thank you for your input. I'm glad the surgery went well and that she is still..." + (show)
@chuckma

Thank you for your input. I'm glad the surgery went well and that she is still active. My oncologist said he would work with the surgeon. They both come across as its no big deal - and maybe it isn't.

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I'm thinking they can figure it out with confidence. Good luck whenever you do it.

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janemc | @janemc | 5 days ago

Do you take low-dose aspirin? That's something the surgeon needs to take into account.

Please let us know how it goes!

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1 reply
chuckma | @chuckma | 4 days ago
In reply to @janemc "Do you take low-dose aspirin? That's something the surgeon needs to take into account. Please let..." + (show)
@janemc

Do you take low-dose aspirin? That's something the surgeon needs to take into account.

Please let us know how it goes!

Jump to this post

Yes. I have been taking baby aspirin for a number of years. If I go through with the surgery I'm sure surgeon will ask me to stop taking it prior to the surgery. Meanwhile I continue taking hydroxyurea to lower platelet count.

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janemc | @janemc | 4 days ago

Wishing you a successful procedure and a swift recovery!

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bshattuck138 | @bshattuck138 | 4 days ago

Here's a link to the NCCN website (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) that is full of great info. Page 32 of the attached link talks about surgery with ET/Jak 2. You're probably aware of this website but just in case you're not: https://www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/content/PDF/mpn-patient.pdf
Happy New Year,
Steve

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