Erythropoietin
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Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin is a protein made mainly in the kidneys that stimulates the bone marrow to produce new red blood cells. Synthetic (man-made) erythropoietin may be used during cancer treatment to prevent anemia or to treat anemia caused by chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant.
Erythropoietin also can be used to treat anemia caused by chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. It elevates or maintains the red blood cell level, decreasing the need for blood transfusions.
Credits
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | D.C. Mendelssohn, MD, FRCPC - Nephrology |
| Last Updated | November 13, 2007 |
| Last updated: | November 13, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jeannette Curtis |
| Reviewed By: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, D.C. Mendelssohn, MD, FRCPC - Nephrology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC |
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