title: The potential role of erythropoietin as a pleiotropic agent in post-cardiac arrest syndrome.
abstract: Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death worldwide with survival rates still remaining suboptimal. Unfortunately, most cardiac arrest patients, who achieve return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), develop a multi-faceted post-cardiac arrest syndrome, including post-cardiac arrest brain injury, myocardial dysfunction, and systemic ischemia/reperfusion response. Erythropoietin (EPO), the principal hematopoietic hormone regulating erythropoiesis, exhibits diverse cellular effects in nonhematopoietic tissues. Due to its anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties, as well as its angiogenic action, EPO plays a role in neuroprotection and cardioprotection. In this regard, EPO represents a promising agent in the cardiac arrest setting, based on a therapeutic strategy that focuses on the post-resuscitation phase. This review aims to provide a comprehensive account of EPO's role in the treatment of each individual component of post-cardiac arrest syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece. theodorosxanthos@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xanthos
authors.forename: Panagiotis V S
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Vasileiou
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakavas
authors.forename: Aggeliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Syggelou
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iacovidou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004921:Erythropoietin