title: Erythropoietin deficiency in the anaemia of chronic disorders.
abstract: 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 less than 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Royal Victoria Hospital, N. Ireland.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Lappin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000172:deficiency*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin