Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1998 Mar-Apr;20(2):140-4.
doi: 10.1097/00043426-199803000-00010.

Blunted serum erythropoietin response to anemia in patients polytransfused for beta-thalassemia major

J S Chen  1 , K H Lin, S T Wang, C J Tsao, T F Yeh
Affiliations

Blunted serum erythropoietin response to anemia in patients polytransfused for beta-thalassemia major

J S Chen et al. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 1998 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the response of erythropoietin (EPO) to anemia in patients polytransfused for beta-thalassemia major.

Patients and methods: We measured the serum EPO levels and the concurrent hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations in 40 patients polytransfused for beta-thalassemia major, in 18 patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA), and 32 healthy subjects. Serum EPO levels were assayed by an enzyme immunoassay.

Results: In both groups with beta-thalassemia major and IDA, serum EPO levels were significantly elevated (114 +/- 71 and 239 +/- 217 mU/mL, respectively). There was a significant inverse correlation between log EPO values and Hb concentrations in patients with beta-thalassemia major (r = 0.61; p < 0.01) and IDA (r = 0.81; p < 0.01). In a semilogarithmic plot, the slope of the regression line obtained in patients with beta-thalassemia major was significantly lower than that of IDA (p < 0.01), suggesting a blunted EPO response to anemia in patients polytransfused for beta-thalassemia major. The elevation of serum EPO in patients with beta-thalassemia major was poorly related to clinical variables except serum ferritin.

Conclusions: We conclude that a significant inverse relationship between serum EPO levels and Hb concentration exists in patients with beta-thalassemia major. However, this EPO response in patients with anemia caused by beta-thalassemia major may be blunted when compared to patients with IDA.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types