INDICATORS OF PLATELET TURNOVER IN THROMBOCYTOPENIC INFANTS

Glycocalicin has been found to be a marker of increased platelet turno ver, while interleukin-6 may be increased in response to thrombocytope nia. We used these markers to study the pathophysiology of thrombocyto penia in newborn infants, Cord blood platelet counts were obtained fro m 499 infants. Thrombocytopenic infants (< 100,000/mm(3)) and a contro l group had ELISA assays for interleukin-6 and glycocalicin performed. The mean levels of glycocalicin and interleukin-6 were elevated in co rd blood of thrombocytopaenic infants. Infants with intrauterine growt h restriction and thrombocytopaenia had no detectable glycocalicin in their plasma, despite elevated levels of interleukin-6. This probably reflects impaired thrombopoiesis in these infants.