Reactive thrombocytosis and stroke following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery: case report on three patients.

Reactive thrombocytosis following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery is generally considered to be a benign condition which is transient and does not require specific therapy. We describe three patients who developed stroke in association with reactive thrombocytosis in the late recovery period following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. No evidence of embolic or cerebrovascular disease was detected in any patient. Analysis of a larger group of patients is required in order to determine whether reactive thrombocytosis may contribute to the pathogenesis of stroke in some patients following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.