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Serum thrombopoietin level and thrombocytopenia during the neonatal period in infants with Down's syndrome

Journal of Perinatology volume 30, pages 98–102 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

The pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia during the neonatal period in Down's syndrome (DS) infants remains unclear.

Objective:

To elucidate kinetic changes of serum thrombopoietin (TPO) level and platelet count, and their correlation in DS neonates.

Study Design:

Twelve DS infants (male/female: 7/5, term/late preterm: 10/2) born between 1997 and 2007 were included. Blood samples were serially collected during the neonatal period and serum TPO levels were determined in 44 sera using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results:

Thrombocytopenia <150 × 109 per liter was observed in seven (58%) patients. In 12 DS patients, the median TPO value showed 2.86 fmol ml–1 on day 0, rose to 4.64 fmol ml–1 on day 2, and thereafter decreased to 4.30 fmol ml–1 on day 5, 2.40 fmol ml–1 on days 11–15, and 1.75 fmol ml–1 on days 28–30. This kinetics parallels that in historical non-DS controls. In 35 pair sample analysis from 11 patients without transient myeloproliferative disease, TPO level inversely correlated with platelet count (r=−0.38, P=0.023). However, there was no significant difference in TPO concentrations between thrombocytopenic and non-thrombocytopenic DS individuals.

Conclusions:

This is the first study to describe the relationship between TPO level and platelet count in neonates with DS. Median TPO levels and their kinetic changes in DS neonates are comparable to those in non-DS controls. In contrast to earlier findings in several studies showing higher TPO concentrations in thrombocytopenic non-DS newborns than those in non-thrombocytopenic counterparts, the response of the TPO system to thrombocytopenia in DS during the neonatal period seems suboptimal.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to Kyowa Hakko Kirin Company Limited (Tokyo, Japan) for measuring serum thrombopoietin levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Nishi-Kobe Medical Center, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

    K Matsubara, H Nigami, K Yura, T Inoue, K Isome & T Fukaya

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  1. K Matsubara
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  2. H Nigami
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  3. K Yura
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  4. T Inoue
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  5. K Isome
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  6. T Fukaya
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Correspondence to K Matsubara.

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Matsubara, K., Nigami, H., Yura, K. et al. Serum thrombopoietin level and thrombocytopenia during the neonatal period in infants with Down's syndrome. J Perinatol 30, 98–102 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2009.120

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