ERYTHROPOIESIS IN CHRONIC RENAL-DISEASE

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 88  (4) , 528-535
Abstract
The diminished erythropoiesis in the anemia of chronic renal disease was attributed to 3 possible factors: decreased erythropoietin production, inhibition of erythropoietin activity and decreased bone marrow response to erythropoietin. These parameters were isolated and evaluated in 19 patients with chronic renal disease, 9 patients with Fe-deficiency anemia and 7 control subjects. The results in patients with chronic renal failure were: erythropoietin enhanced heme synthesis in bone marrow cell cultures by 88 .+-. 12% in renal failure, as compared to 65 .+-. 7% in the control group; plasma erythropoietin activity did not increase appropriately for the degree of anemia; and erythropoietin inhibitor activity in renal failure was not greater than in a control group. The relative failure of erythropoiesis in chronic renal disease appears to be due primarily to decreased production of erythropoietin and not to diminished marrow response to erythropoietin.