SYSTEMIC TREATMENT WITH EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR INDUCES ANEMIA IN GOETTINGEN MINIPIGS

1. From two independent experimental studies conducted in 48 minipigs with oesophageal sclerotherapy and concomitant treatment with epiderma l growth factor, blood samples together with bone marrow biopsies were analysed for safety data. 2. Four to five weeks of systemic treatment with epidermal growth factor induced a decline in blood haemoglobin c oncentration in a time- and dose-dependent and reversible manner but w ithout an effect on leucocyte or platelet counts. 3. The bone marrow e xpressed decreased amounts of haematopoietic tissue and reduced number s of erythropoietic cells. 4. Four to five weeks of systemic treatment with epidermal growth factor induced reversible increases in serum co ncentrations of creatinine and urea, most likely reflecting renal impa irment. 5. Groups in which creatinine and urea were not increased also had reduced blood haemoglobin concentrations. 6. These findings sugge st that epidermal growth factor selectively impaired the erythropoiesi s and stress the importance of risk-benefit analysis concerning the po tential therapeutic applications of epidermal growth factor.