Erythropoietin levels in perioperative period in cancer patients

Anemia is frequent in cancer patients, is the result of decreased erythropoietin production. In fact in cancer, alteration of immune system alters iron metabolism and inhibits erythropoietin production. In this study we proposed to determine the profile of erythropoietin secretion in anaemic cancer patients in the pre and postoperative period. Our prospective study from January to March 2005 included 41 anemic cancer patients from 30 to 79 years old and 31 healthy individuals with iron deficiency anemia. A measure of erythropoietin, CRP, ferritin, iron levels and hemoglobin were released in healthy individuals and in cancer patients in preoperative period (JO) and postoperative period (J3, J8, J21). In preoperative period, the increase of serum erythropoietin was significantly lower in patients than in healthy individuals, In postoperative period, the levels of erythropoietin at J3 and hemoglobin's at J8 and J21 were significantly higher than in preoperative period (JO) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, despite the presence of inflammatory syndrome caused by surgery, cancer patients with anaemia increase their erythropoietin production in immediate postoperative period.