Erythropoietin, the biology of erythropoiesis and epoetin alfa. An overview
Bieber, E.
Journal of Reproductive Medicine 46(5 Suppl): 521-530
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0024-7758 PMID: 11396386 Document Number: 528032
Erythropoietin, a glycoprotein hormone, is synthesized predominantly in the kidney and secreted by renal cortical interstitial cells in response to tissue hypoxia. Erythropoietin is the main regulator of the production of red blood cells. In functions in the recruitment and differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells and aids in their maintenance and survival. Erythropoietin also stimulates the synthesis of hemoglobin. In the last 15 years, the ready availability of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO, epoetin alfa) has permitted the clinical investigation and application of this hormone to the treatment of anemia in various patient populations. Epoetin alfa has been shown to accelerate erythropoiesis and reduce allogeneic blood transfusion in major elective, noncardiac, nonvascular surgery and in certain anemic patients with chronic renal failure, nonmyeloid malignancies and human immunodeficiency virus infection. In addition to improving hematologic parameters, epoetin alfa therapy can enhance health-related quality of life in these patients. The success of epoetin alfa in treating anemia in other surgical populations suggests that it may be of benefit in treating the perioperative anemia that is highly prevalent in gynecologic surgery patients. Further investigation of the use of epoetin alfa in patients undergoing gynecologic surgery would increase awareness of its benefits for this patient population.