A transient increase in endogeneous erythropoietin levels after paediatricliver transplantation

We investigated whether liver transplantation affects endogeneous erythropo ietin (EPO) synthesis. Serum EPO levels were measured before transplantatio n and during the peri-transplant period in ten consecutive paediatric patie nts who had received a liver allograft without recombinant EPO therapy. Al patients were anaemic on post-operative day 1 (POD 1); however, the haemogl obin levels of three patients gradually increased and required phlebotomy o n POD 5-9. The serum levels of EPO in all patients were within the normal r ange before surgery, but six of the ten patients had a transient increased level of EPO at 12-48 h after transplantation. A transient increase of endo geneous EPO following paediatric liver transplantation may be associated wi th extramedullary erythropoiesis in human liver grafts.