Plasma transforming growth factor beta1 levels in thrombocytopenic and nonthrombocytopenic neonates.

In this study, we determined the plasma TGF-beta1 levels in healthy and thrombocytopenic and nonthrombocytopenic neonates who had perinatal risk factors and examined the association between plasma TGF-beta1 levels and platelet counts in these newborns to investigate the role of TGF-beta1 in the pathogenesis of neonatal thrombocytopenia. Three groups were defined in this prospective study: group 1, thrombocytopenic neonates (n=22) who had perinatal risk factors; group 2, nonthrombocytopenic neonates who had similar perinatal risk factors for thrombocytopenia (n=20); group 3, healthy and nonthrombocytopenic neonates without any risk factors (n=20). Plasma TGF-beta1 levels were measured with ELISA. Plasma TGF-beta1 levels of the thrombocytopenic neonates were significantly lower than those of healthy nonthrombocytopenic neonates but did not differ significantly from nonthrombocytopenic neonates who had similar perinatal risk factors for thrombocytopenia. There was a significant positive correlation between plasma TGF-beta1 levels and platelet counts. Further studies are needed to determine the cause of low plasma TGF-beta1 levels in thrombocytopenic neonates and to investigate the role of plasma TGF-beta1 levels in the pathogenesis of neonatal thrombocytopenia.