G. Birgegard et B. Sandhagen, Erythropoetin treatment can increase 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels in red blood cells, SC J CL INV, 61(5), 2001, pp. 337-340
Citations number
7
Categorie Soggetti
Research/Laboratory Medicine & Medical Tecnology","Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL & LABORATORY INVESTIGATION
Some patients experience an improved well-being during treatment with recom
binant human erythropoietin even with an unchanged Hb level. We have hypoth
esized that this may not be only a placebo effect. 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (
2,3-DPG) in red blood cells increases in response to anaemia/hypoxia and ca
uses a shift of the oxygen dissociation curve, allowing a more effective ox
ygen delivery. We have investigated red cell 2,3-DPG concentrations during
erythropoietin treatment in healthy volunteers as a mediator of a possible
physiological explanation. Thirteen healthy subjects with no iron deficienc
y were recruited and randomly assigned to a treatment group comprising five
males and three females and a control group including three males and two
females. The treatment group was treated with erythropoietin (Recormon(R)),
20 IE/kg subcutaneously three times/week for 4 weeks. Blood samples were c
ollected at each injection day and 10 days after the last injection and at
corresponding times in the control group. B-Hb, red cell 2,3-DPG and P50 we
re measured by standard techniques and oxygen-releasing capacity was calcul
ated. Results: due to the sampling (26ml each time, three times/week) the m
ean Hb level was lowered from 140.5 +/-5.9 to 128.6 +/- 10.4 g/L in the con
trol group whereas the erythropoietin treatment group maintained a mean Hb
level of about 142g/L (p<0.002). The 2,3-DPG mean level curve as well as th
at for oxygen releasing capacity also differed significantly between the tw
o groups (p<0.002), the treatment group showing higher levels. Conclusion:
treatment with erythropoietin causes an increase in red cell 2,3-DPG levels
.