Erythropoietin Levels in Elderly Patients with Anemia of Unknown Etiology.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In many elderly patients with anemia, a specific cause cannot be identified. This study investigates whether erythropoietin levels are inappropriately low in these cases of "anemia of unknown etiology" and whether this trend persists after accounting for confounders.

Methods

This study includes all anemic patients over 60 years old who had erythropoietin measured between 2005 and 2013 at a single center. Three independent reviewers used defined criteria to assign each patient's anemia to one of ten etiologies: chronic kidney disease, iron deficiency, chronic disease, confirmed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), suspected MDS, vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, anemia of unknown etiology, other etiology, or multifactorial etiology. Iron deficiency anemia serve

SUBMITTER: Gowanlock Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4911007 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature