Erythropoietin Stops Chronic Diffuse Transfusion-Dependent Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Authors: Veronica Zaharia-Czeizler
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2001)

Letters20 November 2001Erythropoietin Stops Chronic Diffuse Transfusion-Dependent Gastrointestinal BleedingVeronica Zaharia-Czeizler, MDVeronica Zaharia-Czeizler, MDCabrini Medical Center–New York Hospital; New York, NY 10003 (Zaharia-Czeizler)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-135-10-200111200-00028 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Erythropoietin is currently indicated for anemia in patients with chronic renal failure, anemia in patients with cancer, and HIV-positive patients. This report suggests that erythropoietin can stop recurrent, transfusion-dependent bleeding from diffuse lesions of the gastrointestinal tract that have not responded to attempts at local hemostasis.After administration of erythropoietin-α (Procrit, Amgen, Inc., Thousand Oaks, California), four patients became transfusion independent and had improved quality of life.Two patients (patients 1 and 4) bled because of angiodysplasia of the colon. Other causes of bleeding were radiation proctitis in patient 2 and end-stage rectal adenocarcinoma in patient 3. ...References1. Malyszko J, Malyszko JS, Borawski J, Rydzewski A, Kalinowski M, Azzadin A, et al . A study of platelet functions, some hemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters in relation to serotonin in hemodialyzed patients under erythropoietin therapy. Thromb Res. 1995;77:133-43. [PMID: 7740505] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Krawczyk W, Dmoszynska A, Ledwozyw A, Marczewski K. Human erythropoietin changes fatty acids composition of blood platelet phospholipids in hemodialyzed patients [Letter]. Nephron. 1995;69:355. [PMID: 7753283] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Roger SD, Piper J, Tucker B, Raine AE, Baker LR, Kovacs IB. Enhanced platelet reactivity with erythropoietin but not following transfusion in dialysis patients. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 1993;8:213-7. [PMID: 8385286] MedlineGoogle Scholar4. Kuriyama S, Hopp L, Yoshida H, Hikita M, Tomonari H, Hashimoto T, et al . Evidence for amelioration of endothelial cell dysfunction by erythropoietin therapy in predialysis patients. Am J Hypertens. 1996;9:426-31. [PMID: 8735172] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Veronica Zaharia-Czeizler, MDAffiliations: Cabrini Medical Center–New York Hospital; New York, NY 10003 (Zaharia-Czeizler) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byErythropoietin, epoetins, and darbepoetinBleeding and Thrombosis in Patients With Continuous-Flow Ventricular Assist DevicesObscure Gastrointestinal BleedingAngiodysplasies digestivesTherapeutic management options for patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleedingTreatment of gastrointestinal angiodysplasia and unmet needsThe evaluation and management of obscure and occult gastrointestinal bleedingAmerican Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute Technical Review on Obscure Gastrointestinal BleedingErythropoietin, epoetin alfa, epoetin beta, epoetin gamma, and darbepoetinPharmacologic management of obscure gastrointestinal bleedingBlood, blood components, plasma, and plasma productsCurrent status and future developments of rhEPO in clinical oncology 20 November 2001Volume 135, Issue 10Page: 933KeywordsAnemiaErythropoietinHemoglobinHemorrhageHemostaticsPlateletsProctitisProteinsQuality of lifeRenal failure ePublished: 20 November 2001 Issue Published: 20 November 2001 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2001 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...