Thrombocytopoiesis in healthy term newborns.
OBJECTIVE
Thrombocytopoiesis was investigated in term newborns determining thrombopoietin (TPO), reticulated platelets (PLRET) and blood platelets (PLT) in relation to gender.


METHODS
The study was undertaken on 72 healthy term newborns, 33 girls and 39 boys. They fitted all criteria for healthy term newborns. Blood was collected from the umbilical vein immediately after cutting the umbilical cord. The evaluation of thrombocytopoiesis was performed by the following methods: TPO-Quantikine human TPO kit, PLRET- Retic-Count kit, PLT- Advia 120 hematology System.


RESULTS
Concentrations of TPO and percentages of reticulated platelets were greater in the female group than in the male group. The changes were not statistically significant, perhaps as a result of the very wide range of parameters tested. The blood platelet count was higher in female newborns than in male newborns, P<0.001.


CONCLUSIONS
The data may indicate that thrombocytopoiesis is more active in female than in male newborns.
Wasiluk
Alicja
A
Department of Neonatology and Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical Academy, Bialystok, Poland. awasiluk@amb.edu.pl
D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D034061:Thrombopoiesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000378:metabolism
D013926:Thrombopoietin