Mechanisms of Erythropoietin Action in the Cardiorenal Syndrome
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Erythropoietin (EPO) treatment in patients with the severe cardiorenal syndrome increases
cardiac performance and decreases progression of renal failure by dampening the main driving
forces of the cardiorenal syndrome in part via non-erythropoietic pathways.
I. Does EPO administration to patients with the severe cardiorenal syndrome increase cardiac
performance and decrease progression of renal disease?
II. Does EPO treatment affect the main driving forces of the cardiorenal connection, that is,
dampen the activated renin-angiotensin system (RAS), attenuate increased reactive oxygen
species (ROS), normalize increased sympathetic activity, and decrease inflammation?
III. Does EPO treatment positively affect the cell function of patients with the cardiorenal
syndrome:
1. are gene expression signatures of leukocytes positively influenced by EPO treatment,
2. does EPO shift the Jak/STAT pathway to a less pro-inflammatory profile in monocytes, and
3. are function and number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) affected by treatment
with EPO in the cardiorenal syndrome?
IV. Can the direct actions of EPO be differentiated from the effects on hemoglobin levels?