Reactive and clonal thrombocytosis: proinflammatory and hematopoietic cytokines and acute phase proteins.

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.