The circulating thrombopoietin (TPO) level in 43 patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was examined by an ELISA system. The TPO level (mean +/- SD) in ITP patients was mildly elevated (1.86 +/- 1.17 fmol/ml) compared to that in normal subjects (0.76 +/- 0.21), and was within the normal range in 30% of ITP patients. In contrast, the TPO level in patients with aplastic anaemia was very high, 12.35 +/- 6.42 fmol/ml. There was no correlation between TPO level and platelet count in ITP patients. Splenectomy was performed in two ITP patients, after which platelet counts increased to normal levels and TPO levels showed a transient increase. These data suggest that reactive TPO production against thrombocytopenia in ITP is small when compared to that in aplastic anaemia. Relative endogenous TPO deficiency may play some role in the pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in ITP patients.