title: Thrombopoietin serum levels do not correlate with thrombocytopenia in hepatic schistosomiasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In severe forms of cirrhosis reduced liver synthesis of thrombopoietin (Tpo) can contribute to thrombocytopenia. In the hepatosplenic form of schistosomiasis, portal hypertension is the most evident clinical complication, although a deficiency of protein synthesis may be detected early. Our aim was to determine, for the first time in schistosomiasis, Tpo serum concentrations in patients with chronic forms of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with the pure form of schistosomiasis were studied; 13 had the hepatosplenic form (HE, with portal hypertension) and 11 had the hepatointestinal form (HI, without portal hypertension). Patients were HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HCV negative, and reported alcohol ingestion below 160 g/week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Tpo serum concentration, determined in 10 healthy volunteers, varied from undetectable (< 15 pg/mL) to 489 pg/mL (median 208 pg/mL). The HE and HI groups differed (p = 0.004) in regard to the prothrombin index, thrombocytemia and gamma-glutamyltransferase but not in regard to Tpo (p = 0.622). No significant correlation was found between Tpo and the other parameters (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that Tpo serum concentration does not mirror and/or has no significant participation in the mechanisms responsible for the thrombocytopenia observed in schistosomiasis patients with splenomegaly and portal hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mônica R A
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Luciane A K
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: Janaina M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Cláudia T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Carvente
authors.forename: Carlos F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Toledo
authors.forename: Durval R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Borges
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013926:Thrombopoietin