Introduction: It has long been known that COPD causes polycythemia secondary to
erythrocytosis caused by hypoxia present in advanced cases of COPD. However, it was shown in
several studies that some COPD patients had anemia rather than erythrocytosis
Aim: The aim of this work was to assess the changes in erythropoietin in COPD patients during
exacerbation and after remission.
Subjects and methods: This work was done on 50 subjects, Group 1:40 COPD patients plus
Group I 1: 10 age matched apparently healthy control subjects. For all history taking, full clinical
exam, PFTs (spirometry), EPO hormone measurement on human serum by ELIZA (EPO hormone
was measured during exacerbation and after remission), oxygen saturation and routine labs (CBC,
Liver and Renal function) were performed.
Results: Level of erythropoietin hormone was significantly higher in COPD patients with mean
(21.92 ± 6.64 mU/ml) than control with mean (9.42 ± 1.5 mU/ml) and higher during remission
(24.21 ± 6.58 mU/ml) than during exacerbation (21.92 ± 6.64 mU/ml), also was significantly
higher during remission in grade (II, III) (25.68 ± 2.57, 33.71 ± 2.16 mU/ml) than grade (I, IV)
(16.04 ± 0.89, 19.39 ± 1.28 mU/ml) COPD patients respectively. Erythropoietin hormone level
was significantly higher in anemic than non anemic COPD patients. It was (27.94 ± 6.33 mU/
ml) (20.84 ± 4.83 mU/ml) respectively, and it was significantly inversely related to oxygen saturation & both of HB and Hct in COPD patients.