title: Possibility of enhanced risk of retinal angiogenesis in athletes with pre- existing retinal situation abusing erythropoietin doping: a hypothesis.
abstract: Doping with erythropoietic proteins such as erythropoietin (EPO) is a serious issue in sport. There is little information on the possible ophthalmologic alterations followed by frequent EPO abuse in athletes. EPO is a potent retinal angiogenic factor and is capable of stimulating retinal angiogenesis and neovascularization in the presence of ischemia. Systemic and intravitreal EPO concentrations are highly correlated. A linkage between EPO doping and retinal proliferation is possible and further studies are warranted. Gathering and analyzing data on retinal findings from these athletes, either retrospectively or prospectively might yield preliminary information to support the safety of those athletes. Implications of this hypothesis cover other kinds of neovascularizations and angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics Department, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, National Nutrition and Food Sciences Technology Research Institute, Tehran, Iran. rezar@sbmu.ac.ir
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rastmanesh
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D004300:Doping in Sports; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin