Objective: To investigate the serum levels of soluble CD(23) (sCD(23)) and thrombopoietin (TPO) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and their correlation with other prognostic factors.
Methods: The serum levels of sCD(23) and TPO of 25 CLL patients were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Flow cytometry was employed to determine the expression of CD(38) and ZAP-70 protein.
Results: TPO level in CLL patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls 67.22 - 1881.77 ng/L and 70.29 - 147.98 ng/L respectively, P = 0.003. sCD(23) level in CLL patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls 129.80 - 405.31 U/ml and 0.65 - 32.99 U/ml respectively, P = 0.000. TPO level was significantly correlated with Binet stage and CD(38) expression. Patients in stage B and C had higher level of TPO than those in stage A 140.57 - 457.48 ng/L and 121.92 - 163.83 ng/L respectively, P = 0.014, while TPO level was higher in patients with higher CD(38) expression than in patients lower CD(38) expression 113.23 - 199.10 ng/L and 141.34 - 454.92 ng/L respectively, P = 0.033. No significant correlation of sCD(23) and TPO levels with ZAP-70 protein, sex, age, peripheral lymphocyte count and lactate dehydrogenase were observed.
Conclusion: Serum TPO level might be a prognostic factor in CLL.