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A Textbook of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

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EPO<br />

Erythroid<br />

precursors<br />

Erythrocytes<br />

SCF<br />

IL-1<br />

IL-3<br />

IL-6<br />

Megakaryocyte<br />

precursors<br />

Platelets<br />

MCSF<br />

GM-CSF<br />

Tpo<br />

Megakaryocytes<br />

Stem cell factor<br />

Pluripotent stem cell<br />

Myeloid stem cell<br />

Uncommitted myeloid precursor<br />

Granulocyte<br />

macrophage precursors<br />

Monocyte<br />

precursors<br />

Monocytes<br />

produced by interstitial cells <strong>of</strong> the renal cortex adjacent to the<br />

proximal tubules <strong>and</strong> 10% by the liver. Biosynthesis is stimulated<br />

by anaemia/tissue hypoxia which increases levels <strong>of</strong> the<br />

active form <strong>of</strong> a transcription factor called ‘hypoxia-inducible<br />

factor-1’ (HIF), which enhances transcription <strong>of</strong> the erythropoietin<br />

gene. Endogenous erythropoietin homeostasis is further<br />

controlled by a negative feedback loop that maintains<br />

red-cell mass at an optimal level for oxygen transport.<br />

Uses<br />

Epoetin, the recombinant form <strong>of</strong> erythropoietin <strong>and</strong> darbepoetin<br />

(an analogue with a longer plasma half-life) are used to<br />

stimulate red cell growth. These agents are given by subcutaneous<br />

injection. Haemoglobin is monitored to titrate dosing.<br />

Iron supplementation should be used routinely. Recent studies<br />

in cancer patients showed that when compared to placebo, erythropoietic<br />

agents used to treat patients with weaknesss,<br />

malaise <strong>and</strong> fatigue, but whose Hb was not �12 g/dL <strong>and</strong> who<br />

were not currently receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy, reduced<br />

patient survival. This suggests the need to more critically evaluate<br />

<strong>and</strong> use erythropoietic agents in such patients <strong>and</strong> in cancer<br />

patients generally, as many tumours express erythropoietin<br />

receptors.<br />

Granulocyte<br />

precursors<br />

Granulocyte<br />

precursors<br />

Lymphoid<br />

stem cell<br />

Eosinophil<br />

precursors<br />

Erythropoietin is used in:<br />

HAEMATOPOIETIC GROWTH FACTORS 393<br />

Eosinophils Basophils<br />

G-CSF<br />

GM-CSF<br />

Lymphocytes<br />

(for influence <strong>of</strong><br />

interleukins see<br />

Figure 50.1)<br />

MCSF<br />

GM-CSF<br />

Basophils<br />

precursors<br />

Macrophages Neutrophils<br />

Figure 49.3: Haematopoiesis <strong>and</strong> haematopoietic growth factors. EPO, erythropoietin; IL, interleukin; G-CSF, granulocyte colonystimulating<br />

factor; MCSF, macrophage colony-stimulating factor; GM-CSF, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor;<br />

SCF, stem-cell factor; Tpo, thrombopoietin.<br />

T cell<br />

B cell<br />

• anaemia <strong>of</strong> chronic renal failure;<br />

• anaemia <strong>of</strong> drug-induced bone marrow suppression (e.g.<br />

cancer chemotherapy or ZDV therapy);<br />

• anaemia with myeloma;<br />

• anaemia <strong>of</strong> rheumatoid arthritis;<br />

• autologous blood harvesting for transfusion during<br />

elective surgery;<br />

• prevention <strong>of</strong> anaemia in premature babies <strong>of</strong> low birth<br />

weight.<br />

Mechanism <strong>of</strong> action<br />

Erythropoietin binds to a membrane receptor on erythroid<br />

cell precursors. Signal transduction is through a tyrosine<br />

kinase, that increases transcription <strong>of</strong> the genes for key haem<br />

biosynthetic enzymes. Thus, erythropoietin increases haem<br />

biosynthesis <strong>and</strong> causes differentiation <strong>of</strong> erythroid precursors<br />

into mature erythroid cells.<br />

Pharmacokinetics<br />

Elimination occurs by catabolism in the erythroid cells in the<br />

marrow following internalization, by hepatic metabolism <strong>and</strong><br />

to a lesser extent urinary excretion.

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