ERYTHROPOIETIN LEVELS IN UREMIC NEPHRIC AND ANEPHRIC PATIENTS

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 93  (3) , 449-458
Abstract
Erythropoietin titers were measured in anemic nephric and anephric patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis by utilizing a plasma concentration technique. In 8 of 11 anephric patients studied, decreased but detectable levels of erythropoietin were found, suggesting that extrarenal erythropoietin plays a role in the regulation of red cell production in anephric patients. In 14 nephric uremic patients, erythropoietin production was more variable, with 1 group of 8 patients having erythropoietin levels in the range for normal nonanemic individuals (3.9-15 mU[units]/ml), and a 2nd group of 6 patients with erythropoietin higher than normal (> 15 mU/ml). Both groups were equally anemic, indicating that in the 2nd group the bone marrow is less responsive to erythropoietin. The severity of secondary hyperparathyroidism was higher in this 2nd group, suggesting a role of PTH [parathyroid hormone] in the bone marrow unresponsiveness. A good correlation between biological and immunological erythropoietin activities was found in the plasma from normal subjects and uremic nephric and anephric patients.

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