Platelet-derived growth factor concentrations in platelet-poor plasma and
urine from patients with myeloproliferative disorders
GM Gersuk, R Carmel and PK Pattengale
Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, CA 90027.
Our enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring human
platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) detects nanogram quantities (ranging
from 0.007 to 16 ng/100 microL) in purified PDGF standards. This assay is
sensitive enough for studying plasma and urine. The range in normal
volunteers was 0.6 to 2.3 micrograms/L for platelet-poor plasma and 1.4 to
3.3 micrograms/L for urine. We determined PDGF levels in the circulation
(outside platelets) in patients with myeloproliferative diseases.
Platelet-poor plasma and urine PDGF were significantly elevated in patients
with myelofibrosis (6.2 +/- 2.0 micrograms/L for plasma; 7.8 +/- 2.4
micrograms/L for urine) and essential thrombocythemia (5.5 +/- 1.5
micrograms/L for plasma; 11.4 +/- 2.2 micrograms/L for urine), but not in
patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (2.1 +/- 0.4 micrograms/L for
plasma; 2.8 +/- 1.2 micrograms/L for urine). Polycythemia vera produced an
intermediate pattern: although plasma PDGF was within the normal range (2.1
+/- 0.2 micrograms/L), urine levels were increased (3.7 +/- 0.6
micrograms/L). These results show that PDGF is increased in the circulation
in some but not all myeloproliferative diseases, and suggest that this is
due to abnormal in vivo release from either megakaryocytes in the bone
marrow or circulating platelets.
Volume 74,
Issue 7,
pp. 2330-2334,
11/15/1989
Copyright © 1989 by The American Society of Hematology
