Erythropoietin is a natural hormone that acts on your bone marrow’s stem cells to increase red blood cell production. And recombinant human erythropoietin, aka epoetin, is a synthetic form of erythropoietin predominantly used as anemia treatment.
Erythropoietin is produced by certain kidney cells, and to a lesser extent the liver, in response to low blood oxygen levels. Its primary function is to promote production of red blood cells and hemoglobin. Both increase the oxygen carrying capacity of your blood.
Under healthy conditions, erythropoietin is deployed for oxygen maintenance. However, there are certain health conditions, treatments and environments for which erythropoietin production may vary outside the norm, such as:
- anemia
- high altitude
- AIDs treatment drug
- chronic kidney failure
- chemotherapy treatment
- bone marrow disorders ~ polycythemia vera
Because oxygen is needed to make energy and is transported around via red blood cells, any cause for their destruction commonly results in anemia. For example, chemo treatment can substantially destroy red blood cells along with the targeted cancer.
So, when your body doesn’t make enough erythropoietin to keep up with the demands for red blood cell production, recombinant human erythropoietin might be used to make up for your blood count short fall. Recombinant human erythropoietin is virtually identical to the naturally occurring hormone. Sometimes referred to as epoetin, this drug is produced by DNA technology for treating anemia and may also be employed as a blood transfusion alternative.
At this time, epoetin is approved only for anemia treatment related to:
- chemotherapy
- zidovudine (AZT) therapy for AIDs
- chronic kidney failure, including those on dialysis
It does not help improve anemia symptoms caused by cancer or HIV.
Some of the drug side effects of recombinant human erythropoietin are:
- fever
- edema
- fatigue
- diarrhea
- dyspnea
- weakness
- blood clots
- nausea, vomiting
- increased blood pressure
Seizures have been reported by those with kidney failure who take epoetin.
Beyond anemia treatment, recombinant erythropoietin is being used off label to treat other health conditions, like:
- porphyria
- thalassemia
- uremic pruritus
- multiple myeloma
- sickle cell disease
- rheumatoid arthritis
- epidermolysis bullosa
- transfusion hemochromatosis
Epoetin is studied for cognitive function improvement in those with schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis.
Erythropoietin is also being misused as an athletic enhancement by endurance athletes, such as cyclists, long-distance runners, speed skaters and cross-country skiers. This misuse can be especially dangerous for your health because for instance if hemoglobin production climbs too high, it can increase your risk heart failure, heart attack and stroke. And even death.