losartan-potassium and Rheumatic-Diseases

Topics: Anemia; Chronic Disease; Erythrocyte Count; Erythropoiesis; Erythropoietin; Humans; Infections; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Neoplasms; Rheumatic Diseases

Recent literature on nonneoplastic hematologic disease in the rheumatic disorders has been reviewed, and current concepts on the anemia of rheumatoid arthritis and its treatment have been expanded. The anemia of chronic renal failure and of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has responded to treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin. Recent studies document that the anemia of rheumatoid disease can also be alleviated with intermittent intravenous or subcutaneous administration of erythropoietin without apparent adverse reaction. However, no improvement is evident in the underlying rheumatoid disease or functional abilities of these patients. Further data are needed to determine the utility of erythropoietin therapy in rheumatoid arthritis and in other rheumatic diseases. Other mechanisms of anemia of rheumatoid disease have been studied, and as the underlying defects become known, other therapies may become available to patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.

Topics: Anemia; Erythropoietin; Felty Syndrome; Hematologic Diseases; Humans; Rheumatic Diseases

Defective iron metabolism, mild haemolysis and impaired erythropoiesis contribute to the anaemia of chronic disorders (ACD), but evidence for a deficiency of circulating erythropoietin (Epo) is equivocal. We have examined serum Epo in moderately anaemic patients with Hb less than 10 g/dl--41 patients with ACD (23 associated with rheumatoid disease and 18 with malignancy), 17 with uncomplicated iron-deficiency anaemia and 33 with chronic renal failure (CRF). In ACD the serum Epo (mean (confidence limits] results of 41 (31, 54) mU/ml for the rheumatoid group and 63 (49, 80) mU/ml for the malignancy group, were significantly lower than the Epo of 104 (78, 136) mU/ml for the iron-deficiency group. The CRF group with more severe anaemia had serum Epo of 27 (19, 35) mU/ml. Thus, recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu Epo) should be considered for the treatment of ACD associated with rheumatoid disease and malignancy.

Topics: Adult; Anemia; Anemia, Hypochromic; Chronic Disease; Erythropoietin; Female; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Rheumatic Diseases

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anemia; Colony-Stimulating Factors; Endocrine System Diseases; Erythropoietin; Female; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Infections; Liver Diseases; Male; Neoplasms; Rheumatic Diseases