[Erythropoietin in non-specific intestinal inflammation]

In 39 patients with non-specific intestinal inflammations the authors examined the erythropoietin level. They found a significantly higher level of serum erythropoietin in patients during relapse, when the organism responds to more severe anaemia by increased erythropoietin production. The idea that the reactivity of the bone marrow or effectiveness of erythropoietin is influenced by mediators of the inflammation is supported by the fact that the group comprised patients with high erythropoietin values of 102, 106.6, 109 and 445 ImU/l but their anaemia did not improve markedly. The theory on an inadequate erythropoietin secretion is supported by the fact that four patients in relapse with relatively severe anaemia had low erythropoietin levels and six patients had despite a significant drop of haemoglobin normal erythropoietin levels. Contrary to other diseases, in non-specific intestinal inflammations the erythropoietin secretion depends not only on the severity of the inflammation but probably on many other factors, incl. immunological ones.