The potential of erythropoietin for conferring cardioprotection complementing reperfusion

Despite the well-recognized effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on augmenting red blood cell production, EPO exerts multiple additional effects in diverse tissues. Evidence indicating the potential for tissue protection is reviewed as is a description of a study now initiated, in which its potential benefit on the evolution of acute myocardial infarction in patients is being explored.

The literature demonstrating tissue-protective effects of EPO in experimental animals and patients is cited as is the protocol of the recently undertaken Vermont/Dubai study assessing the potential benefits conferred by EPO on the evolution of infarction in patients.

Compelling arguments can be made indicating that EPO and its congeners, some of which are devoid of erythropoietic effects, can protect tissue against injurious stimuli. Accordingly, the promise of EPO for favorably altering the evolution of acute myocardial infarction merits exploration. Congeners of erythropoietin or EPO itself may be beneficial in protecting the heart against injury induced by ischemia thereby favorably modifying infarct size. Rigorous testing of this hypothesis is now in progress in a study involving patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to hospital within 6 h after the onset of chest pain in whom infarct size is being evaluated based on serial analyses of concentrations of creatine kinase in plasma and thrombolysis is induced pharmacologically as promptly as possible.

EPO is promising for myocardial protection. Its potential is being delineated in a clinical study of myocardial infarction treated with tenecteplase with or without concomitant EPO.