A test of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) in blood. An abnormal level of EPO may mean bone marrow or kidney disease or EPO abuse.
Testing EPO blood levels is thus of value if:
Too little EPO might be responsible for too few red
blood cells (such as in evaluating anemia).
Too much EPO might be causing too many red blood cells
(polycythemia).
Too much EPO might be evidence for a kidney tumor.
Too much EPO in an athlete suggests EPO abuse.
The patient is usually asked to fast for 8-10 hours
(overnight) and sometimes to lie quietly and relax for 20
or 30 minutes before the test. The test requires a routine
sample of blood.
Normal levels of EPO are 0 to 19 (some say up to 24)
mU/ml (milliunits per milliliter). Subnormal values of EPO are found for example in anemia due to chronic kidney failure. Elevated EPO levels are found for example in
polycythemia rubra vera, a disorder characterized by an
excess of red blood cells. The correct interpretation of an abnormal EPO level depends on the patient's particular picture.
medical
dictionary, online medical dictionary, medical
terminology dictionary, free online medical
dictionary, medical dictionary, online medical
dictionary, medical terminology dictionary, free
online medical dictionary, dictionary medical,
dictionary medical online, dictionary medical
terminology, dictionary free medical online,
dictionary free medical, dictionary medical
terms, dictionary drug medical medicine,
dictionary health illustrated medical nursing
profession stedmans, dictionary English medical,
dictionary medical online terminology,
dictionary encyclopedia medical online,
condition dictionary medical, dictionary
medical, dictionary drug medical, medical
dictionary software, cyclopedic dictionary index
medical tabers thumb, medical dictionary, online
medical dictionary, medical terminology
dictionary
