Identification of Plasma Thrombopoietin Level and Its Significance in Patients with Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Objective Our objective was to investigate the concentration of plasma thrombopoietin (TPO) in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), as well as its relationship with patients' responses to recombined human TPO (rhTPO) therapy. Methods We detected the concentration of plasma TPO in 31 patients with AA, 27 patients with MDS, and 11 normal controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The median concentration of plasma TPO in patients with AA, MDS, and controls was (841.08 ± 768.64), (212.41 ± 338.93), and (35.09 ± 18.21) pg/mL, respectively. The TPO concentration in patients with AA and MDS was significantly higher than that in controls ( p < 0.05). The median platelet (PLT) counts were (184 ± 34) ×10 (9) /L in the control group and (24 ± 19) ×10 (9) /L and (80 ± 71) ×10 (9) /L in AA and MDS patients, respectively. Negative correlations were found between plasma TPO concentration and PLT counts as well as megakaryocytes in bone marrow ( p < 0.05). In AA patients treated with rhTPO, a negative correlation was observed between increased PLT counts and pretreatment TPO levels ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Plasma TPO concentration in AA and MDS was significantly higher than that in normal controls. Plasma TPO was negatively correlated with peripheral blood PLT counts and bone marrow megakaryocyte counts. The pretreatment TPO level may serve as a prognostic indicator for the therapeutic effect of rhTPO in AA patients.