| [ Summary ] |
Maintenance of red blood cell volume is a fundamental aspect of ensuring oxygen supply to tissue. The glycoprotein hormone erythropoietin is the principal regulator of the red blood cell production. The gene for human erythropoietin was cloned in 1985, and recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) was approved for marketing in Japan in 1990 for the treatment of anemia in patients undergoing dialysis for chronic renal failure. rHuEPO caused a significant rise in hemoglobin levels. The physical fitness of patients treated with rHuEPO was also significantly improved. Not all patients have a good response to rHuEPO therapy, the causes of failure include iron deficiency, infection, uremia, and interaction with some drugs. In ruling out cause of erythropoietin resistance, we must check the interaction of other drugs including angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE I), angiotensin type I receptor blockers (ARB), anti platelet coagulaors and so on. |