Human erythropoietin (EPO) gene and cDNA associated with the rabbit whey acidic protein (WAP) gene promoter were used to tentatively produce the recombinant protein in milk of transgenic mice and rabbits. Several gene constructs showed good efficiency in the mouse mammary cell line HC11. None of them was able to direct the expression of the hormone at a concentration higher than 50 micrograms/m...

Anemia is the most common hematologic manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The causes of HIV-related anemia are multifactorial and include direct and indirect effects of HIV infection. HIV-related anemia generally is due to reduced red blood cell (RBC) production, secondary to a variety of causes, but it may also involve nutrition...

Acquired pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) has been associated with various lymphoproliferative conditions but its occurrence with Hodgkin's disease is rare. We report a case of PRCA occurring immediately following the completion of induction chemotherapy in a patient with Stage IIIB nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease. In vitro erythroid colony studies documented evidence for T cell mediated suppr...

hematocrit and hence the red cell mass is persistently elevated. After ruling out the presence of spurious polycythemia, attention should be focused on the causes of true polycythemia, namely primary and secondary polycythemias. Primary polycythemias are disorders in which the erythroid progenitors are hypersensitive to very low levels of erythropoietin while secondary polycythaemias are charac...

Pure red-cell aplasia is an isolated disorder of erythropoiesis that leads to the pment of severe, isolated anemia. In chronic kidney disease patients treated with n erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA), development of anti-erythropoietin antibodies s one of the leading causes of pure red-cell aplasia. It requires to stop treatment with ESA, but in the vast majority of cases immunosuppressive...

We investigated the pathogenesis of isolated erythrocytosis of 14 yr duration in a 28-yr-old man. The increase in red cell mass was attributed to increased erythropoietin production. An extensive search for recognized causes of secondary erythrocytosis was unrevealing. Family members were found to be hematologically normal. After reduction of the circulating red cell mass by 20%, erythropoietin...

Introduction Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO)2 and Darbepoetin-alpha (DPO)3 are genetically engineered protein-based drugs used for the treatment of anemia by stimulating red blood cell production. The ability of these agents to stimulate red blood cell production has led to use and abuse by human and equine athletes and, thus, violates the rule of fair competition resulting in their cl...

Erythropoietin (EPO) is the principal haematopoietic growth factor of the red blood cell line. Its major role is to stimulate the red blood cell production. EPO synthesis by peritubular cells in the kidney is regulated by oxygen concentration and must lead adaptation of the organism to face many different physiological situations. An imbalance can lead either to anaemia or polycythemia. Synthet...

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is characterized by intravascular hemolysis leading to anemia and other clinical manifestations. Transfusions are often required to support hemoglobin at tolerable levels. A PNH patient with aplastic anemia was treated with the complement inhibitor eculizumab, followed by concurrent treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo). Eculizumab al...

During the first 10 yr of therapy with recombinant human erythropoietin ([EPO]), only three cases of antibody-associated pure red cell aplasia have been described in patients who were treated with EPO, whereas several millions of patients have received this treatment. Thus, the possibility for epoetin to induce the formation of anti-EPO antibodies was considered extremely low. However, since 19...