title: Thrombocytopenia and complement activation under recombinant TNF alpha/IFN gamma therapy in man.
abstract: Infusions of recombinant human tumor necrosis-alpha plus recombinant human interferon-gamma (rhTNF alpha/rhIFN gamma) were assessed in two patients with Ewing's sarcoma. We analyzed platelet count, coagulation and the terminal complement complex (TCC). During cycles with continuous rhTNF alpha-infusions we found a rapid, marked decrease of platelet count (minus 90% of initial values) and a simultaneous increase of TCC (plus 84% of initial values) at day 4. At days 5-7 a spontaneous increase of platelet count and decrease of TCC were visible. Short-term infusion led to a milder, continuous decrease of platelet counts and to a moderate, progressive increase of TCC at days 5-7. Bleeding occurred only as petechia and mild hemoglobinuria. There was no effect related to the dosage of rhTNF alpha or rhIFN gamma. Relevant differences were seen only in the variable time courses of rhTNF alpha application. Ex vivo analysis of one patient's platelets showed no cytokine-related effect on induced aggregation according to Born. Additionally, we analyzed in vitro effects of the cytokines on platelet count, platelet aggregation, and the assembly of TCC in platelet membranes. No effects were found after incubation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with 1000 pg/ml rhTNF alpha and/or 50 pg/ml rhIFN gamma. Fluid-phase and membrane-bound TCC did not change after incubation of PRP with cytokines. A slightly time-dependent increase of TCC without alteration of platelet count and platelet function did not agree with the assumption of a direct injury to platelets. We assume a cytokine-mediated role of the endothelium in platelet loss.
authors.affiliation: Department for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heinrich Heine University Medical Center, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Michelmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Böckmann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nürnberger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eckhof-Donovan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burdach
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Göbel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012016:Reference Values; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C046193:antithrombin III-protease complex; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000990:Antithrombin III; D005340:Fibrinogen; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases