Plasma erythropoietin levels in the oldest old.
Erythropoietin (EPO) regulates erythrocytes production and is synthesized mainly by the kidney. Its production is reduced during chronic renal failure but is not altered by the senescence process in spite of the morphological changes that occur in the kidney. However, there is no information regarding what happens to erythropoietin synthesis during advanced ageing. Thus, we carried out an investigation to determine whether there was any significant difference in plasma erythropoietin between adults, old and very old people.


METHODS
We studied 74 healthy volunteers: 22 adults, 30 old, and 22 very old. None of them were smokers or were suffering from any disease that may intefere with hemoglobin (Hb) levels or with EPO production. Hematocrit, Hb, plasma creatinine and plasma erythropoietin were measured, and creatinine clearance was calculated from serum creatinine using two different formulae. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and Bonferroni tests.


CONCLUSIONS
Among the three groups we found a significant difference in creatinine clearance (p < 0.001), but not in plasma erythropoietin levels; we conclude that normal senescence does not alter plasma erythropoietin levels, even during advanced ageing.
Musso
C G
CG
Department of Nephrology, Hospital Italiano de Bs, As, Argentina.
Musso
C A F
CA
Joseph
H
H
De Miguel
R
R
Rendo
P
P
Gonzalez
E
E
Algranati
L
L
dos Ramos Farias
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values
D004921:Erythropoietin; D003404:Creatinine