Erythropoietin levels in endocrinopathies.

BACKGROUND: Erythropoietin (EPO) is an oxygenregulated hormone promoting the differentiation of erythroid progenitor cells. Apart fromhypoxia, few data is available about release by secretagogues including hormones. AIM: To investigate EPO serum concentration in subjects with endocrine diseases.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study evaluating serumEPO concentrations in serumleftovers fromsubjects with various endocrine disorders.
RESULTS: EPO is not noticeably influenced by thyroid hormone or cortisol concentrations and the relationship with hemoglobin concentration is preserved. In acromegalic patients, the latter is lost but EPO is neither statistically influenced by GH/IGF-I. This may reflect a dual action of GH and/or IGF-I on erythroid progenitors proliferation as well as on EPO synthesis.
CONCLUSION: EPO is not noticeably modified by endocrine disorders although GH and or IGF-I may alter EPO relationship with blood hemoglobin concentration.