Erythropoietin concentrations in obstructive sleep apnoea.
Eight patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and a normal haemoglobin concentration underwent nocturnal studies during which oxyhaemoglobin saturation was recorded continuously with an ear oximeter and serum erythropoietin concentration was measured hourly by means of a radioimmunoassay. Serum erythropoietin concentrations remained within the normal range throughout the study despite falls in oxyhaemaglobin saturation in individuals to 33-78%. There was no relation between the degree of nocturnal hypoxaemia and serum erythropoietin concentrations. The brief cyclical episodes of hypoxaemia typical of obstructive sleep apnoea may not be a sufficient stimulus for erythropoietin secretion.
Goldman
J M
JM
David Read Laboratory, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown NSW, Australia.
Ireland
R M
RM
Berthon-Jones
M
M
Grunstein
R R
RR
Sullivan
C E
CE
Biggs
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D004921:Erythropoietin