Erythropoietin and retinopathy: the beginning of an understanding
- C J Diskinth, HNDT, Auburn University, Bldg 21, 121 N. 20th Street, Opelika, AL 36801, USA; HNDT512{at}bellsouth.net
- Accepted 21 September 2007
I would like to congratulate Kase and his colleagues for their work finding that erythropoietin (EPO) receptors (EPOR) are strongly expressed in the microvessels of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.1 As they carefully note, while experts disagree on the use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in patients with diabetes, the present work should contribute to a cautious re-evaluation of the topic.
Diabetic retinopathy often accompanies end stage renal disease (ESRD) from diabetes where rHuEPO is frequently administered. Because heparin was required as an anticoagulant, many early clinicians worried that chronic maintenance haemodialysis would worsen …
