Thromb Haemost 2005; 93(01): 118-123
DOI: 10.1160/TH04-02-0093
Platelets and Blood Cells
Schattauer GmbH

Changes in thrombopoiesis and platelet reactivity in extremely low birth weight infants undergoing erythropoietin therapy for treatment of anaemia of prematurity

Nadja Haiden
1   Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Intensive Care, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Francesco Cardona
2   Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Jens Schwindt
1   Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Intensive Care, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Angelika Berger
1   Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Intensive Care, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Stefan Kuhle
3   Department of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
,
Monika Homoncik
2   Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Petra Jilma-Stohlawetz
4   Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Arnold Pollak
1   Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Intensive Care, University of Vienna, Austria
,
Bernd Jilma
2   Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Vienna, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 14 February 2004

Accepted after revision 19 October 2004

Publication Date:
14 December 2017 (online)

Summary

Erythropoietin (Epo) is frequently administered to premature infants to stimulate erythropoiesis. There is evidence from studies in animals and healthy adults that Epo also interacts with thrombopoiesis and platelet function.This study investigates the effect of Epo therapy on platelet reactivity, peripheral platelet counts and thiazole orange-positive (TO+) platelets in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. In a randomised-controlled trial, ELBW infants with a birth weight ≤ 800g and a gestational age ≤ 32 weeks were either randomised to a group receiving Epo during the first weeks of life or to a control group. Our results show that thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP-6) -induced expression of P-selectin increased significantly during the first two weeks of Epo treatment.With the exception of week five, the number of TO+ platelets was significantly higher during the first eight weeks in Epo-treated infants compared to controls. The increase of TO+ platelets was not paralleled by an increase in total platelet count.We can conclude that Epo therapy has a short-lasting effect on platelet reactivity toTRAP-6 in ELBW infants during the first two weeks of life.Furthermore, Epo therapy is associated with an increase in the number of TO+ platelets compared to controls.

 
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