Deficient in vitro megakaryocytopoiesis and decreased in vivo platelet turnover in children and young adults with chronic thrombocytopenia.

PURPOSE

Chronic thrombocytopenia is uncommon in children and frequently thought to be secondary to chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), which is considered an immune disorder. However, not all children with chronic ITP respond to immunosuppressive therapy. Platelet survival and megakaryocyte growth were studied to determine if there is a failure of platelet production in children with chronic thrombocytopenia who carry a presumptive diagnosis of chronic ITP.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In vitro megakaryocyte growth using a plasma clot system and in vivo survival of 111In-labeled autologous platelets were studied in seven patients (aged 2 days to 17 years at diagnosis; aged 2 to 28 years at time of megakaryocyte study) with chronic isolated thrombocytopenia (range 1,000 to 130,000/microl).

RESULTS

All seven patients exhibited elevated platelet-associated immunoglobulin G early in the course of their disease and showed normal marrow morphology with normal numbers of morphologically typical megakaryocytes on initial marrow biopsy. Occasional dysplastic-appearing megakaryocytes were noted in three of the seven patients at diagnosis and all patients were noted to have dysplastic megakaryocytes, reduced megakaryocytes, or both during follow-up (range 5 to 16 years). Either morphologic or karyotypic abnormalities indicative of myelodysplasia subsequently developed in three patients. No patient exhibited any significant megakaryocyte colony growth under basal conditions. In one patient, megakaryocytic colonies significantly increased when grown in the presence of serum from aplastic patients and growth factors (granulocyte-macrophage colony-simulating factor, interleukin-3, and interleukin-6). Erythroid colony growth was markedly deficient in four of five patients studied and myeloid colonies were normal in two of three patients studied. Five of the seven patients underwent platelet survival studies. Platelet survival was < 6 days in the 4 patients with platelet counts < 100,000/microl (range 2 to 60,000/microl; survival range 92 to 137 hours) and was normal in the patient whose platelet count was > 100,000/microl (platelets 132,000/microl; survival 253 hours). All five patients had either overtly low or inappropriately low platelet turnovers (range 100 to 1423 platelets/microl per hour; normal range 1200 to 1600 platelets/microl per hour). The patient with the lowest platelet count and platelet turnover had previously undergone a splenectomy without benefit.

CONCLUSIONS

Megakaryocyte dysfunction resulting in subnormal production of platelets may play a significant role in the thrombocytopenia noted in some patients who have an isolated thrombocytopenia and a clinical picture that suggests ITP. Determination of platelet turnover may help to identify these patients. These data suggest the presence of a stem cell defect which may progress to myelodysplasia or overt marrow failure in these patients.