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Published on: March 14, 2017
Hydroxyurea therapy increases plasma erythropoietin in patients with essential thrombocythaemia or polycythaemia vera
1Section of Haematology and Coagulation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg and Uddevalla Hospital, Uddevalla, Sweden. peter.l.johansson@vgregion.se
Abstract:
The determination of serum/plasma erythropoietin (EPO) concentration has gained widespread use in the diagnosis of polycythaemia vera (PV). A reduced EPO concentration in a newly diagnosed essential thrombocythaemia (ET) seems to be a risk factor for thromboembolic events. In this study plasma EPO concentration was determined before and after initiated hydroxyurea (HU) therapy, 14 patients with PV or ET were included. After 1 month on HU therapy 11 of 14 patients had increased their EPO concentration compared with prior to medication. The plasma EPO was increased in all, except one patient, after 4 months HU therapy. If EPO is incorporated in the diagnostic or prognostic procedures it should be determined before myelosuppressive therapy is initiated.
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