Circulating Thrombopoietin and Interleukin-11 in Thrombocytopenic Neonates with Sepsis

ABSTRACT

Thrombocytopenia is a commonly encountered hematological complication in neonates with sepsis. Thrombopoietin [TPO] is the major regulator of the platelet production in neonates. It is unique among the haematopoietic cytokines for maintenance of the most primitive haematopoietic stem cells. Interleukin-11[lL-11] stimulates megakaryorytopoiesis and platelet production. The aim of this study was to determine the variation in the TPQ and IL-11 levels and/or if they would correlate with platelet count or not in infected neonates with sepsis. Thirty five neonates with sepsis admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Department, Tanta University Hospital, were enrolled in this study. Twenty healthy neonates sewed as a control group. All these neonates were subjected to the following Complete blood count [CBC], blood culture, C-reactive protein [CRP], chest X-ray, coagulation studies including prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen and D-dimer. Plasma TPO and IL-11 levels were performed using Enzyme-Linked lmmunosorbent Assay[ELISA], The results showed that sick neonates with sepsis had significantly higher plasma levels of both TPO and IL-11 [P<0. 05]. Also, there was significant inverse correlations between the platelet count and TPO and IL-11 levels [r=-0.917 and-0.908 respectively, P value<0.01]. TPO and IL-11 are significantly increased in neonatal sepsis with thrombocytopenia and they are being explored as potential therapeutic agents in these patients