NCT01392612

Erythropoietin and Platelet Activation Markers

The Effect of Erythropoietin on Platelet Activation Markers: a Prospective Study in Healthy Volunteers

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 12 (actual)
• Sponsor: Medical University of Vienna · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

We hypothesized that the effect of erythropoietin may be reflected by changes in thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and endothelial cell function. Six male and six female subjects received recombinant human epoetin alpha (Erypo®) intravenously (300 Units per kg). Biomarker levels were assessed at baseline and 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours after administration.

Detailed description

Introduction: Erythropoietin (EPO) enhances formation of red blood cells and also affects thrombopoiesis and platelet function. We hypothesized that the effect of erythropoietin may be reflected by changes in thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and endothelial cell function. Methods: Six male and six female subjects received recombinant human epoetin alpha (Erypo®) intravenously (300 Units per kg). Biomarker levels were assessed at baseline and 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours after administration. Results: Epoetin alpha increased TXB2 levels, which reached significance at 48h (2.5- fold increase: 6.6±5ng/mL vs. 15±9ng/mL; p=0.044) and remained at that level at 72h. In line, epoetin alpha increased E-selectin levels by 25% already at 24h (39±21ng/ml vs. 49±26ng/ml; p\<0.001) and stayed at this level until 72h (p\<0.001). The raise in platelet activation markers corresponded with a 2-fold increase in reticulocyte count (81±17G/L vs. 43±10G/L; p\<0.001) and a 9% increase in platelet count at 72h (224±45G/L vs. 244±52G/L; p=0.005). Thrombomodulin and von Willebrand factor concentrations were not significantly altered by epoetin alpha. Interestingly, gender differences in the baseline levels of E-selectin and thrombomodulin were observed. E-selectin and thrombomodulin levels were doubled in men compared to women (51±24ng/mL and 28±10ng/mL; p=0.025 and 30±5ng/mL vs. 16±5ng/mL; p=0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Epoetin alpha increases levels of platelet activation markers. Further studies are needed to investigate whether measurement of TXB2 or E-selectin levels might be useful for estimation of thromboembolic risk during EPO-therapy.

Conditions

• Thrombosis
• Hypertension

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	erythropoietin	Subjects received one single intravenous injection of epoetin alpha (Erypo®, rhEPO, Ortho Biotech/Division of Janssen-Cilag Ag, Bridgewater, New Jersey, US) at a dose of 300 Units per kg bodyweight. Blood was sampled at baseline and 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours after administration of rhEPO during a biosimilarity trial.

Timeline

• Start date: 2006-11-01
• Primary completion: 2007-02-01
• Completion: 2007-07-01
• First posted: 2011-07-12
• Last updated: 2011-07-14

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Austria