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Erythropoietin

Erythropoietin, EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone produced mainly by the kidney which regulates the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells. Low level of oxygen in the body causes the pathway leading to erythropoietin production, and consequentially, erythrocyte production. With the application of recombinant DNA technology, the gene for erythropoietin has been molecularly cloned, sequenced and expressed in a biologically active form in mammalian cells. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) was introduced in clinical practice in 1986 as a drug that can compensate blood transfusion in those cases when there is enough time for erythropoietin to work. Indications for erythropoietin application are: patients with chronic renal insufficiency on dialysis, patients with malignancies on chemotherapy and patients to be operated with expected blood loss grater than 1 litre and neonates. Iron therapy is essential when using erythropoietin to maximize erythropoiesis by avoiding absolute and functional iron deficiency. Four possible routes of rHuEPO administration exist: intravenous, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal and intradermal. Preferred route nowadays is subcutaneous application. The side effects of treatment are hypertension, seizures, thrombosis. Other possible adverse effects are: flu like syndrome, bone and muscle pain and headache. Because of its effect on hematocrit and athletic performance erythropoietin was misused in some sports, but nowadays its use as a doping is banned by sport authorities.

erythropoietin ; chemical properties ; use

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