Serum thrombopoietin and transforming growth factor-beta1 levels in children with ITP

Objective:To study the cytokines of regulating megakaryopoiesis in children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Method: The serum levels of hematopoietic augmental factor thrombopoietin (TPO) and inhibition factor transforming growth factor -beta1 (TGF β1) were detected using quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique in 40 children.Result: ① Children with ITP had normal or only slightly elevated levels of TPO, but serum TPO levels were significantly increased in some ITP patients (55%) compared to healthy controls. Of interest, children with increased TPO levels had a significantly lower megakaryocyte number in bone marrow (P= 0.007 ) and a poor response to steroids (P 0.01 ) than those with normal TPO levels. ② Despite a similarity in platelet counts, serum TPO levels in aplastic anemia (AA) children were markedly higher than those in ITP group ( 1486.75 ± 159.01 pg/ml vs 199.96 ± 302.68 pg/ml, respectively,P 0.01 ). ③ The serum levels of TGF β1 in ITP patients were significantly higher than those in normal controls (P 0.01 ) and the serum levels of TGF β1 in AA patients was significantly lower than that in ITP patients (P= 0.01 ) but showed no difference with normal controls (P= 0.512 ).Conclusion: The results indicate that detection of the serum levels of TPO and TGF β1 is of great value in the understanding of the pathogenesis,differential diagnosis and treatment of ITP in children.