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Erythropoietin deficiency in the anaemia of chronic disorders
Author(s) -
Boyd H. Kathryn,
Lappin T. R. J.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1991.tb00540.x
Subject(s) - medicine , erythropoietin , iron deficiency , malignancy , haemolysis , erythropoiesis , gastroenterology , anemia , rheumatoid arthritis , endocrinology , immunology
Defective iron metabolism, mild haemolysis and impaired erythropoiesis contribute to the anaemia of chronic disorders (ACD), but evidence for a deficiency of circulating erythropoietin (Epo) is equivocal. We have examined serum Epo in moderately anaemic patients with Hb < 10 g/dl — 41 patients with ACD (23 associated with rheumatoid disease and 18 with malignancy), 17 with uncomplicated iron‐deficiency anaemia and 33 with chronic renal failure (CRF). In ACD the serum Epo (mean (confidence limits)) results of 41 (31, 54) mU/ml for the rheumatoid group and 63 (49, 80) mU/ml for the malignancy group, were significantly lower than the Epo of 104 (78, 136) mU/ml for the iron‐deficiency group. The CRF group with more severe anaemia had serum Epo of 27 (19, 35)mU/ml. Thus, recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu Epo) should be considered for the treatment of ACD associated with rheumatoid disease and malignancy.