Prednisone stimulation of erythropoiesis in leukemic children during remission

Children with acute leukemia in remission manifest reticulocytosis and a significant increase in hemoglobin concentration (mean increment of 2.3 +/- 1.1 g/dl) following prednisone pulse therapy. This hemoglobin increment is not associated with changes in serum erythropoietin activity. It is speculated that this stimulation of red cell production may be a direct effect of steroids on erythroid progenitor cells.