Increased soluble transferrin receptor in a case of hypernephroma accompanied by polycythaemia and elevated erythropoietin.
An increased level of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) has been recognized as a useful indicator of iron deficiency, especially in tumour anaemia and in chronic diseases. In cases of erythropoietin substitution, however, it indicates a successful stimulation of erythropoiesis. We report an "unusual" increase in sTfR in a 60-year-old man who suffered from end-stage hypernephroma with extended lung metastases. He showed pulmonal hypertension, polycythaemia and a high serum level of erythropoietin. We assume that, in this case, the increased sTfR originates not only from bone marrow but could be partly contributed also by the malignant tissue of the hypernephroma.
Böhmer
F
F
Sozialmedizinisches Zentrum Sophienspital, Apollogasse 19, A-1070 Vienna.
Karlic
Heidrun
H
Lapin
A
A
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000097:blood*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000097:blood*; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood*
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D004921:Erythropoietin