title: Thrombopoietin, interleukin-6, and P-selectin at diagnosis and during post-steroid recovery period of patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: Plasma concentrations of the most potent megakaryocytopoietic cytokines, thrombopoietin (TPO) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the platelet activation marker P-selectin were evaluated in 24 patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (ATP) who responded to conventional steroid treatment, at diagnosis and after steroid-induced recovery. Baseline TPO concentration (median [interquartile range]=0 [17.52] pg/ml) was significantly decreased and IL-6 (38 [19.75] pg/ml) and P-selectin (485 [393.75] ng/ml) were significantly elevated compared with healthy subjects (100 [68] pg/ml, 8 [7] pg/ml and 166 [69] ng/ml, respectively). Following steroid treatment, all values approached normal, i.e., TPO (20 [18.75] pg/ml) was increased and IL-6 (19.5 [13] pg/ml) and P-selectin (248 [172.5] ng/ml) were decreased, significantly. The decrease of TPO in ATP is suggested to occur due to increased megakaryocyte mass and, consequently, TPO clearance. The non-lineage-specific cytokine IL-6 may be elevated to compensate for megakaryocytopoiesis/thrombopoiesis. The elevation of P-selectin may reflect compensatory platelet hyperactivation; however, this molecule also might be a marker of platelet destruction.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University Medical School, Department of Hematology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Haznedaroglu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Büyükaşik
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koşar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kirazh
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Dündar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods*; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D019007:P-Selectin; D013256:Steroids; D013926:Thrombopoietin