Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
5
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-12-30
pubmed:abstractText
Thrombopoietin (TPO) is the most important regulator of megakaryocyte development and platelet production. Platelet production is thought to be regulated by a negative regulatory feed back loop. In an attempt to evaluate the role of TPO in the pathobiology of essential thrombocythemia (ET), we have examined levels of TPO and other cytokines with thrombopoietic activity (interleukin-6 and interleukin-11) in sera obtained from 25 patients with ET (ten treated, 15 untreated) and 117 healthy control subjects. TPO serum levels were assessed using a sandwich-antibody ELISA that utilizes a polyclonal rabbit antiserum for both capture and signal. The mean serum TPO level in 25 ET patients was significantly elevated (545+/-853 pg/ml) as compared with that in healthy controls (95.3+/-54.0 pg/ml,p<0.001). The difference in TPO serum levels between ten treated (781+/-1229 pg/ ml) and 15 untreated ET patients (388+/-458 pg/ml) did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.09). We conclude that either consumption or production of TPO is altered in ET. Failure of appropriate feedback regulation and continued megakaryocyte stimulation by an elevated TPO may play an important role in the pathobiology of ET.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Nov
pubmed:issn
0939-5555
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
77
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
211-5
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1998
pubmed:articleTitle
High levels of thrombopoietin in sera of patients with essential thrombocythemia: cause or consequence of abnormal platelet production?
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Medicine III (Hematology and Oncology), University of Ulm, Germany.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article