erythropoietin

Examples of erythropoietin in the following topics:

• Medical Uses of Hematopoietic Growth Factors

  • The physician must carefully weigh the costs (such as a 50% increase in the rate of thrombosis with use of erythropoietin) with the benefits.
  • Recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) is very effective in treating the diminished red blood cell production that accompanies end-stage kidney disease.
  • Besides those on dialysis, erythropoietin is used most commonly to treat anemia in people with chronic kidney disease who are not on dialysis (those in stage 3 or 4 CKD) and those living with a kidney transplant.
  • Erythropoietin is a sialoglycoprotein hormone produced by peritubular cells of kidney.
  • Erythropoietin has been shown to be beneficial in certain neurological diseases like schizophrenia.

• Other Hormone-Producing Structures

  • The kidneys secrete a variety of hormones, including erythropoietin, and the enzyme renin.
  • Erythropoietin is released in response to hypoxia in the renal circulation.

• Dialysis

  • The kidneys also function as a part of the endocrine system, producing erythropoietin and calcitriol.
  • Erythropoietin is involved in the production of red blood cells and calcitriol plays a role in bone formation.

• Complete Blood Count

  • Abnormally low numbers of reticulocytes can be attributed to chemotherapy, aplastic anemia, pernicious anemia, bone marrow malignancies, problems of erythropoietin production, various vitamin or mineral deficiencies (B9, B12, iron), disease states (anemia of chronic disease) and other causes of anemia due to poor RBC production.

• Location and External Anatomy of the Kidneys

  • In addition, the kidneys produce hormones including calcitriol, erythropoietin, and the enzyme renin, which are involved in renal and hemotological physiological processes.

• RBC Life Cycle

  • Erythropoiesis can be stimulated by the hormone erythropoietin, which is synthesized by the kidney in response to hypoxia (systemic oxygen deficiency).

• Development of Blood

  • Erythropoietin is required for a myeloid progenitor cell to become an erythrocyte.