title: The variable role of erythropoietin deficiency in the pathogenesis of dialysis anaemia.
abstract: To evaluate the role of reduced erythropoietin (Ep) production in the pathogenesis of dialysis anaemia, measurements of serum erythropoietin (SEp) concentration by means of a highly sensitive in vitro bioassay were performed in 88 non-nephrectomised non-transfused regular haemodialysis patients. In 50 patients (group 1) SEp levels were lower than 120 mU/ml. In the remaining 38 patients (group 2) SEp concentrations ranged from 120-369 mU/ml. Group 1 showed a highly significant positive correlation between SEp concentration and haematocrit as did 13 anephric patients investigated for comparison. In contrast, group 2 displayed a highly significant negative correlation between SEp concentration and haematocrit. The results demonstrate the existence of two distinctive  groups of similar size in regular haemodialysis patients: those with an absolute (group 1) and those with a relative deficiency of Ep (group 2). In the case of the latter, lack of Ep is probably a secondary factor in the pathogenesis of anaemia, whereas uraemic toxicity and blood loss may play a primary role.
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014511:Uremia / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin