Abstract

 

Anemia is the major stimulus for erythropoietin (Epo) secretion. Various studies have reported increases in Epo levels following chemotherapy. The mechanism has not yet been clarified. In this study, we evaluated serum Epo levels before, during (7 and 14 days), and after (day 25) chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (n=13) and lymphoblastic leukemia (n=4). As control group, 12 healthy subjects were evaluated. Epo levels were high in untreated leukemia patients compared to controls and continued to increase following chemotherapy. There was no significant difference in post-treatment values of Epo as compared with pre-treatment levels. In patients with pre-treatment values of Hb < 9 g/dl, Epo levels were inversely correlated with Hb (r: 0.552, p< 0.05). This correlation disappeared during and following treatment. There was no correlation between Epo and hematological or biochemical parameters. Therefore, elevated levels of Epo regardless of anemia may be due to a response to tissue hypoxia or increased synthesis of Epo in liver or bone marrow. [Journal of Turgut Özal Medical Center 1997;4(1):50-52]

Key Words: Erythropoietin, leukemia, chemotherapy