Erythropoietin , anemia management

Cowgill LD, James KM, Levy JK, Browne JK, Miller A, Lobingier RT, Egrie JC. Use of recombinant human erythropoietin for management of anemia in dogs and cats with renal failure. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1998 212 521-528. 

Less blood loss and iron deficiency, resulting in easier management of anemia or reduced requirements for erythropoietin and parenteral iron. 

Strauss, R. 2006. Controversies in the management of the anemia of prematurity using single-donor red blood cell transfusions and/or recombinant human erythropoietin. Transfusion Medicine Review 20(1), 34-44. 

Erythropoietin is a protein produced mainly in the cortex of the kidney. Erythropoietin binds to a receptor on the surface of erythroid precursor cells. It stimulates erythropoiesis and is primarily indicated for the treatment of anemia in patients with chronic renal failure. Other indications are the management of anemia in cancer patients and in HIV positive subjects treated with anti-HIV regimens. 

Mechanism of Action An anabolic steroid that promotes tissue-building processes, increases production of erythropoietin, causes protein anabolism, and increases hemoglobin and red blood cell volume. Therapeutic Effect Controls metastatic breast cancer and helps manage anemia of renal insufficiency. 

The introduction of human recombinant erythropoietin significantly improved the quality of life for patients on real dialysis by managing the concomitant anemia, which results from end-stage renal failure. It has also been successfully employed in several other conditions in which erythropoiesis is suppressed either through disease processes or as a result of treatments. 

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