[A clinical study of serum erythropoietin concentrations in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinomas].
We have measured the serum erythropoietin concentrations in 14 patients with liver cirrhosis and in 14 patients with a hepatocellular carcinoma. Among these patients, 2 with liver cirrhosis (14.3%) and 7 with a hepatocellular carcinoma (50.0%) were found to have raised serum erythropoietin concentrations, ranging up to 40 mU/ml. Negative correlations were found between erythropoietin and the RBC, and the Hb and Ht in the cases with liver cirrhosis. In contrast, a positive correlation which was not significant was found only between the erythropoietin and the RBC in cases involving a hepatocellular carcinoma. This has suggested that the relationship between the erythropoietin and the RBC in cases of a hepatocellular carcinoma differs from the relationship seen under the usual physiological circumstances of those with liver cirrhosis.
Takezaki
E
E
Dept. of Gastroenterology, Kure National Hospital.
Murakami
S
S
Kagawa
K
K
Omori
H
H
Nishibayashi
H
H
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood*; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006454:Hemoglobins; D004921:Erythropoietin