title: Age-related changes in thrombopoietin in children: reference interval for serum thrombopoietin levels.
abstract: 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 x 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Mizonokuchi Hospital, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan. ishiguro@med.teikyo-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakahata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimbo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013926:Thrombopoietin