SERUM ERYTHROPOIETIN LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH LEUKEMIA ON CYTOSTATIC TREATMENT

Anemia is the major stimulus for erythropoietin (Epo) secretion. Vario us studies have reported increase of Epo following chemotherapy. The m echanism of this phenomenon is not yet clarified. In this study, the s erum Epo levels have been evaluated before, during (7 and 14 days), an d after (day 25) chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloblastic leuk emia (n = 13) and lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 4). As a control group. 12 healthy age-matched subjects were evaluated. Epo levels were high i n untreated leukemia patients compared to controls and continued Lo in crease following chemotherapy. There was no significant difference in post-treatment values of Epo as compared with pre-treatment levels. In patients with pre-treatment values of Hb less than or equal to 9 g/dl , Epo levels were inversely correlated with Hb (r = 0.552; p < 0.05). This correlation disappeared during and following treatment. There was no correlation between Epo levels and hematological or biochemical pa rameters. Therefore, elevated levels of Epo regardless of anemia may b e due to a response to tissue hypoxia or increased synthesis of Epo in liver or bone marrow.