Pathophysiology of intensive care unit-acquired anemia.

Mitchell P Fink

Journal: Critical care (London, England) 2005;8 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S9-10

PMID: 15196314

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Abstract

The formation of red blood cells (RBCs) in the bone marrow is regulated by erythropoietin in response to a cascade of events. Anemia in the intensive care unit can be caused by a host of factors. Patients in the intensive care unit may have decreased RBC production and a blunted response to erythropoietin. Administration of recombinant human erythropoietin may stimulate erythropoiesis, increase hematocrit levels and hemoglobin concentration, and reduce the need for RBC transfusions.

Address: Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. [email protected]

DOI: 10.1186/cc2410

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MeSH Terms: Anemia, Anemia, Iron-Deficiency, Blood Specimen Collection, Bone Marrow Cells, Comorbidity, Erythrocytes, Erythroid Precursor Cells, Erythropoietin, Hemorrhage, Humans, Incidence, Intensive Care Units, Vitamin B 12 Deficiency