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High-dose recombinant human erythropoietin stimulates reticulocyte production in patients with multiple organ
1Department of Anesthesiology and General Intensive Care, General Hospital (AKH) of the University of Vienna, Austria.
Objective:
To investigate erythropoietin (EPO) production and the erythropoietic potency of recombinant human EPO in the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.
Design:
Randomized, prospective, controlled clinical trial.
Materials And Methods:
Patients received either 600 IU/kg intravenous EPO three times weekly (n = 9) or saline (control, n = 10).
Measurements:
EPO levels, circulating soluble receptors for tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-2, levels of interleukin-6 and intercellular adhesion molecule, and early peripheral blood cell progenitors.
Results:
EPO production in the control group remained low. Pharmacologic EPO blood levels were associated with increased reticulocyte counts compared with both controls (p < 0.04) and baseline (p < 0.006). Increased levels of soluble receptors for tumor necrosis factor in the treatment group compared with the controls did not prevent this effect. Interleukin 6 inhibited reticulocyte production.
Conclusion:
Despite increased cytokine levels, pharmacologic EPO blood levels were associated with increased reticulocyte counts in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.