Investigating Erythropoietin Resistance

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Abstract
The kidney is the principal source of erythropoietin, and renal failure represents a state of erythropoietin deficiency; patients with chronic renal failure have low plasma concentrations of erythropoietin relative to the severity of their anemia1. Recombinant human erythropoietin is an effective treatment for anemia in these patients,2,3 and it has few adverse effects. The chief exception is hypertension, which is readily controlled with antihypertensive medication. The paucity of adverse effects has two explanations. First, as a recombinant human molecule, erythropoietin does not elicit allergic responses. Second, erythroid progenitor cells appear to be the only target of the hormone. . . .