ERYTHROPOIETIN LEVEL IN PATIENTS WITH MYELOPROLIFERATIVE DISEASES

In order to differentiate polycythemia vera (PV) from other myeloproli ferative disorders (MPD) and from secondary erythrocytosis the levels of erythropoietin (EPO) were determined. The study also attempted to d efine EPO levels throughout the course of MDP and to investigate if th ere are any variations in these levels which determine the prognosis a nd progress of transformation to acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). We also investigated whether therapeutic administration of hydroxyurea t o patients with MPD stimulates any changes in EPO levels. Fourty-five patients with MPD, 5 patients with secondary erythrocytosis and 10 nor mal subjects were included in the study. We found that all patients wi th PV, apart from 3, had very low levels of EPO, while those with seco ndary erythrocytosis had all very high levels. Patients with other MPD had levels ranging from normal to elevated, apart from one patient wi th primary thrombocytosis (PT) who had levels below normal. The levels of EPO did not change significantly during follow up and therapy with hydroxyurea. Four patients (2 with myelofibrosis and 2 with PV) had v ery high levels at the time of transformation to AML.