Among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are approved for avoiding transfusions, a risk that increases when hemoglobin (Hgb) falls to <10 g/dl. Transfusions increase sensitization, prolong the waiting time to and the likelihood of transplantation, and when transplantation is performed worsen graft survival. Accordingly, the risk of transfusion a...

BACKGROUND Little is known about iron deficiency (ID) and anemia in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The purposes of this study were: (i) To study the prevalence and treatment of anemia and ID in patients hospitalized with an exacerbation of COPD. (ii) to study the hematological responses and degree of dyspnea before and after correction of anemia with subcutaneous Erythropoiesis S...

BACKGROUND Erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) were proposed to enhance survival of renal tissues through direct effects via activation of EPO receptors on renal cells resulting in reduced cell apoptosis, or indirect effects via increased oxygen delivery due to increased numbers of Hb containing red blood cells. Thus through several mechanisms there may be benefit of ESA administration on ...

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for end-stage renal failure and cardiovascular events. In patients with CKD, anemia is often caused by decreased erythropoietin production relative to hemoglobin levels. As correction of anemia is associated with improved cardiac and renal function and quality of life, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are standard therapy for anemia in CKD p...

OBJECTIVES This study evaluated clinical outcomes associated with erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) use in left ventricular assist devices (LVAD)-supported patients. BACKGROUND Use of ESAs in patients with LVADs may minimize blood transfusions and decrease allosensitization. ESAs increase thrombotic events, which is concerning because LVADs are sensitive to pump thrombosis (PT). METHOD...

The introduction of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) into clinical practice in the 1980s and the later new modified erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) was a real breakthrough in the treatment of severe anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Use of ESAs is primarily based on an assumption that failing kidneys produce less erythropoietin which is needed for adequate...

The introduction of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) into clinical practice in the 1980s and the later new modified erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) was a real breakthrough in the treatment of severe anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Use of ESAs is primarily based on an assumption that failing kidneys produce less erythropoietin which is needed for adequate...

Elliott et al. [1] have shown that erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) protein is low to undetectable in human renal cells and other tissues with no detectable EpoR on cell surfaces. This result was obtained by western blotting with an EpoR-specific monoclonal rabbit antibody (A82) and measurement of the binding of radiolabelled recombinant human Epo ([I]rHuEpo). RHuEpo did not induce intracellular ...

Background: Integrative oncology (IO) seeks to bring non-conventional approaches into conventional oncology care in an evidence-based, coordinated manner. Little is known about the effects of such consultations on patient-reported symptoms. Methods: We reviewed data from patients referred for an IO outpatient consultation between 2009 and 2013, comparing the cohort of patients with at least one...