Age-related changes in thrombopoietin in children : Reference interval for serum thrombopoietin levels

• Published in: Br J Haematol Vol. 106; no. 4; pp. 884 - 888
• Main Authors: Ishiguro, Akira, Nakahata, Tatsutoshi, Matsubara, Kousaku, Hayashi, Yasuhide, Kato, Takashi, Suzuki, Yoko, Shimbo, Toshikazu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, U.K. and Cambridge, USA Wiley 01.09.1999; Blackwell Science Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aging; Aging - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; children; cord blood; Female; Fetal Blood; Fetal Blood - chemistry; Hematology; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; plasma; Reference Values; serum; Thrombopoietin; Thrombopoietin - metabolism; Human; Cytokine; Serum; Enzyme immunoassay; Child; ELISA assay; Age; Thrombopoietin; Growth factor; Quantitative analysis; Blood plasma
• ISSN: 0007-1048; 1365-2141
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.1999.01641.x

We studied thrombopoietin (TPO, Mpl ligand) values using a sensitive ELISA in 254 serum samples obtained from disease‐free children and adult volunteers. TPO was detected in all samples, and its values ranged widely from 0.25 to 9.18 fmol/ml. When analysed by dividing the subjects into 11 age groups, the mean TPO levels from birth to 1 month of age were increased (3.73–5.92 fmol/ml). The highest values were found 2 d after birth; TPO levels then gradually decreased to adult levels (0.83 fmol/ml). The relationship between TPO values and platelet counts was not significant in all subjects (r = 0.27) or in children alone (r = 0.12). In children > 1 month of age a 95% reference interval for serum TPO values was determined from 0.58 to 3.27 fmol/ml. A significant correlation was found between TPO values in serum and plasma; serum TPO values = −0.257 + 4.039 × plasma TPO values (r = 0.951, P < 0.001, n = 22). This study is the first to report age‐dependent changes in blood TPO levels throughout child development. Serum TPO values were significantly high up to 1 month of age and were correlated with plasma TPO levels.