Is there a role for erythropoietin in cardiovascular disease?
BACKGROUND
Despite the advances in the cardiovascular field, cardiovascular diseases remain an important health problem with a high mortality rate. Novel therapeutic attempts that target myocardial ischemia and heart failure offer attractive adjuncts and/or alternatives to commonly employed regimens. The development of novel laboratory technologies over the last decade has led to substantial progress in bringing new therapies to the bedside.


METHODS
Current experimental and clinical trials in the use of erythropoietin (EPO) in cardiovascular diseases are reviewed.


RESULTS
This review will widen knowledge of the therapeutic potential of EPO's non-erythropoietic beneficial effects in a clinical cardiovascular setting.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from preclinical trials regarding the non-erythropoietic effects of erythropoietin are really encouraging. Further clinical studies are warranted to define the beneficial role of EPO in the clinical setting of coronary artery disease, heart failure and peripheral artery disease.
Vogiatzi
Georgia
G
Athens University Medical School, Hippokration Hospital, First Cardiology Unit, Vasilissis Sofias 114, 115 28, Athens, Greece.
Briasoulis
Alexandros
A
Tousoulis
Dimitris
D
Papageorgiou
Nikolaos
N
Stefanadis
Christodoulos
C
D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy; D017467:Receptors, Erythropoietin / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D017467:Receptors, Erythropoietin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin