BACKGROUND: We quantitated proinflammatory and thrombopoietic cytokines in reactive thrombocytosis (RT) and clonal thrombocytosis (CT) to identify a cytokine profile that might aid in the distinction of these two disorders.METHODS: Serum levels of cytokines relevant to platelet biology--interleukins 3, 6, 11, and 1beta; thrombopoietin; tumor necrosis factor alpha; and C-reactive protein (CRP)--were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in healthy subjects and in patients with CT and RT.RESULTS: Interleukin-6 and CRP levels were higher in RT patients than in controls or CT patients. Interleukin 1beta levels were higher in the RT group than in the CT and control groups.CONCLUSIONS: In RT, IL-6, IL-1beta, and CRP levels are elevated. In both RT and CT, IL-11 is elevated, but thrombopoietin levels are not.
Adult Aged