The immature platelet fraction: creating neonatal reference intervals and using these to categorize neonatal thrombocytopenias.

OBJECTIVE: The immature platelet fraction (IPF) is a laboratory measurement analogous to the reticulocyte count, but reflecting the thrombopoietic state. Similar to a reticulocyte count, it can be expressed as a percent (IPF%=percent of platelets that are immature) or as an absolute number per µl blood; the immature platelet count (IPC=IPF% × platelets per µl of blood). STUDY DESIGN: Using a retrospective analysis of de-identified data from non-thrombocytopenic neonates, we created reference intervals for IPF% and IPC. We then tested the value of these measurements for categorizing thrombocytopenic neonates. RESULTS: New charts display reference intervals for IPF% and IPC on the day of birth according to gestational age, and during the first 90 days after birth. Neonates with hyporegenerative varieties of thrombocytopenias (syndromes, small for gestational age, birth asphyxia) had lower IPF% and IPC than did neonates with consumptive thrombocytopenias (immune-mediated, infection, disseminated intravascular coagulation, necrotizing enterocolitis; both P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The new reference interval charts can be used to recognize abnormal IPFs. The IPF parameters can help clarify the kinetic mechanism responsible for thrombocytopenias in neonates.

Eltrombopag, a thrombopoietin mimetic, crosses the blood-brain barrier and impairs iron-dependent hippocampal neuron dendrite development.

Essentials Potential neurodevelopmental side effects of thrombopoietin mimetics need to be considered. The effects of eltrombopag (ELT) on neuronal iron status and dendrite development were assessed. ELT crosses the blood-brain barrier and causes iron deficiency in developing neurons. ELT blunts dendrite maturation, indicating a need for more safety studies before neonatal use. SUMMARY: Background Thrombocytopenia is common in sick neonates. Thrombopoietin mimetics (e.g. eltrombopag [ELT]) might provide an alternative therapy for selected neonates with severe and prolonged thrombocytopenia, and for infants and young children with different varieties of thrombocytopenia. However, ELT chelates intracellular iron, which may adversely affect developing organs with high metabolic requirements. Iron deficiency (ID) is particularly deleterious during brain development, impairing neuronal myelination, dopamine signaling and dendritic maturation and ultimately impairing long-term neurological function (e.g. hippocampal-dependent learning and memory). Objective To determine whether ELT crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB), causes neuronal ID and impairs hippocampal neuron dendrite maturation. Methods ELT transport across the BBB was assessed using primary bovine brain microvascular endothelial cells. Embryonic mouse primary hippocampal neuron cultures were treated with ELT or deferoxamine (DFO, an iron chelator) from 7 days in vitro (DIV) through 14 DIV and assessed for gene expression and neuronal dendrite complexity. Results ELT crossed the BBB in a time-dependent manner. 2 and 6 µm ELT increased Tfr1 and Slc11a2 (iron-responsive genes involved in neuronal iron uptake) mRNA levels, indicating neuronal ID. 6 µm ELT, but not 2 µm ELT, decreased BdnfVI, Camk2a and Vamp1 mRNA levels, suggesting impaired neuronal development and synaptic function. Dendrite branch number and length were reduced in 6 µm ELT-treated neurons, resulting in blunted dendritic arbor complexity that was similar to DFO-treated neurons. Conclusions Eltrombopag treatment during development may impair neuronal structure as a result of neuronal ID. Preclinical in vivo studies are warranted to assess ELT safety during periods of rapid brain development.

Increasing platelets without transfusion: is it time to introduce novel thrombopoietic agents in neonatal care?

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved two novel thrombopoiesis-stimulating agents, Romiplostim (AMG-531, Nplate) and Eltrombopag (Promacta), for the treatment of adults with immune thrombocytopenic purpura. For physicians taking care of critically ill neonates, this offers the opportunity of decreasing platelet transfusions and potentially improving the outcomes of neonates with severe and prolonged thrombocytopenia. However, several developmental factors need to be taken into consideration. First, the population of thrombocytopenic neonates likely to benefit from these agents needs to be carefully selected. Second, the mechanisms underlying neonatal and adult thrombocytopenia differ from each other and are incompletely understood, and pre-clinical evidence suggests that the response of neonates to thrombopoietic factors might be different from that of adults. Finally, the potential non-hematopoietic effects of thrombopoietin have not been well established. Here, we will discuss these issues in detail, and will highlight the critical developmental differences between neonates and adults that need to be considered as we think about introducing these agents into neonatal care.

Platelet reference ranges for neonates, defined using data from over 47,000 patients in a multihospital healthcare system.

OBJECTIVE: Identifying a platelet count as abnormal (thrombocytopenia or thrombocytosis) can facilitate recognizing various disease states. However, the published reference ranges for platelet counts in neonates may be imprecise, as they were generated from relatively small sample sizes and compiled before modern platelet enumeration methods. STUDY DESIGN: We derived new neonatal reference ranges for platelet counts and mean platelet volume (MPV) measurements using electronic data accumulated during a recent 6-year period from a multihospital healthcare system. RESULT: Platelet counts were obtained between the first and the 90th day after birth, from 47,291 neonates delivered at 22 to 42 weeks gestation. The first platelet counts obtained in the first 3 days of life, increased over the range of 22 to 42 weeks gestation. In those born < or =32 weeks gestation, the lower reference range (5th percentile) was 104,200 microl(-1), but it was 123,100 microl(-1) in late-preterm and -term neonates. Advancing postnatal age had a significant effect on platelet counts; during the first 9 weeks, the counts fit a sinusoidal pattern with two peaks; one at 2 to 3 weeks and a second at 6 to 7 weeks. The upper limit of expected counts (95th percentile) during these peaks were as high as 750,000 microl(-1). CONCLUSION: The figures herein describe reference ranges for platelet counts and MPV determinations of neonates at various gestational ages during their first 90 days. Expected values differ substantially from the 150,000 microl(-1) to 450,000 microl(-1) range previously used to define neonatal thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis. The new definitions will render the diagnoses of neonatal thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis less commonly than when the old definitions were used, because the new ranges are wider than 150,000 microl(-1) to 450,000 microl(-1).

Do platelet transfusions in the NICU adversely affect survival? Analysis of 1600 thrombocytopenic neonates in a multihospital healthcare system.

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have indicated a correlation between the number of platelet transfusions received by newborn intensive care unit (NICU) patients and the mortality rate. The number of platelet transfusions might be a marker for level of illness, and thus predictive of mortality. However, an alternative hypothesis is that multiple platelet transfusions themselves are harmful in this population. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated data from all thrombocytopenic neonates cared for in the Intermountain Healthcare NICUs in the past 4 years, seeking associations between the lowest platelet count recorded, number of platelet transfusions received and mortality rate. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis to examine the hypothesis that platelet transfusions were responsible for some fraction of the mortality rate. RESULT: Transfusion and outcome data were examined from 1600 thrombocytopenic NICU patients. At any level of platelet count, some patients received platelet transfusions but others did not. However, at all levels of platelet count, those that received platelet transfusions had a higher mortality rate. Neonates not given any platelet transfusions had a mortality rate of 2%, those with 1 or 2 transfusions had a mortality rate of 11% (P<0.001); those with >10 had a mortality rate of 35% (P<0.001); and those with > or = 20 had a mortality rate of 50% (P<0.001). A sensitivity analysis suggested that the platelet transfusions themselves were very likely responsible for some fraction of the increasing mortality rate. CONCLUSION: The number of platelet transfusions administered in the NICU predicts the mortality rate. Some of this correlation is ascribable to unknown and unmeasured factors such as level of illness. However, the present data and the sensitivity analysis both suggest that some of this correlation is due to harmful effects of multiple platelet transfusions in this group of patients.

Thrombocytopenia among extremely low birth weight neonates: data from a multihospital healthcare system.

OBJECTIVES: Thrombocytopenia is common in neonatal intensive care units (NICU), with 18 to 35% of patients developing this problem before hospital discharge. It might be even more common among extremely low birth weight neonates (ELBW, < or = 1000 g birth weight). However, little is known about thrombocytopenia in the ELBW population. We sought to determine the incidence, timing, causes, platelet transfusions given, and outcomes of thrombocytopenia among ELBW neonates. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a cohort analysis of all 284 ELBW neonates born during 2003 and 2004 cared for in any of the Intermountain Healthcare level III NICUs. RESULTS: Multiple platelet counts were obtained in all 284 (range, 4 to 441 platelet counts/patient). Of the 284, 208 (73%) had one or more platelet counts < or =150 000/microl. Most were detected during the first days of life; 80% were detected during the first week and only 20% were detected thereafter. Thrombcytopenia was more common among the smallest patients; 85% incidence among those < or =800 g, 60% among those 801 to 900 g, and 53% among those 901 to 1000 g. Platelet transfusions were given to 129 of the 208 thrombocytopenic neonates. More than 90% were given prophylactically (the patient was not bleeding). The mortality rate among those that received platelet transfusions was twice that of those that received no platelet transfusions (P < 0.01). In 48% of cases, the cause of the thrombocytopenia went undiagnosed. The most common explanations were being small for gestational age or delivered to a hypertensive mother, DIC, bacterial infection, fungal infection, and necrotizing enterocolitis, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We observed thrombocytopenia among ELBW neonates at a rate more than twice that reported among the general NICU population. Much remains to be discovered about the etiology and best treatments of thrombocytopenia among ELBW neonates.