Word parts
What it means
When oxygen levels in the kidneys fall, they release more erythropoietin, and the bone marrowbone MAIR-ohThe soft, spongy tissue inside bones that makes blood cells.Full entry makes more red blood cells. In chronic kidney diseaseKRON-ik KID-nee dih-ZEEZKidney damage or reduced kidney function that lasts longer than three months.Full entry , the kidneys make too little, which causes anemia. Man-made forms, such as epoetin alfa (Epogen, Procrit) and darbepoetin (Aranesp), are given by injection to treat anemia from kidney disease or chemotherapy.
For the nurse
Before giving drugs that copy it, check the hemoglobin and blood pressure. They carry a boxed warning: hemoglobin levels pushed too high raise the risk of stroke, heart attack and clots. Iron is often needed for them to work.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | EPO |
|---|---|
| Spanish | eritropoyetina |
| Also written | EPO |
Related terms
chronic kidney disease
Kidney damage or reduced kidney function that lasts longer than three months.
anemia
A lower than normal number of red blood cells or amount of hemoglobin in the blood.
red blood cell
A blood cell that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues; also called an erythrocyte.
kidney
One of two bean-shaped organs in the back of the belly that filter the blood and make urine.