Epoetin beta

Epoetin beta is a synthetic, recombinant form of erythropoietin, a hormone naturally produced by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells. It is used in the treatment of anemia associated with chronic renal failure and in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

History[edit | edit source]

Epoetin beta was developed in the late 1980s as a result of advances in recombinant DNA technology. It was first approved for medical use in the European Union in 1997.

Medical uses[edit | edit source]

Epoetin beta is used to treat anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease, both those who are on dialysis and those who are not. It is also used to treat anemia in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, and in patients undergoing major surgery to reduce the need for blood transfusions.

Mechanism of action[edit | edit source]

Epoetin beta works by stimulating the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells, thereby increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. It binds to the erythropoietin receptor on the surface of red blood cell precursors in the bone marrow, triggering their maturation into functional red blood cells.

Side effects[edit | edit source]

Common side effects of epoetin beta include headache, hypertension, and flu-like symptoms. Serious side effects can include blood clots, heart attack, stroke, and increased tumor growth in cancer patients.

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Translate this page: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, தமிழ், తెలుగు, Urdu, ಕನ್ನಡ, Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, বাংলা
European español, Deutsch, français, Greek, português do Brasil, polski, română, русский, Nederlands, norsk, svenska, suomi, Italian
Middle Eastern & African عربى, Turkish, Persian, Hebrew, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Kiswahili,
Other Bulgarian, Hungarian, Czech, Swedish, മലയാളം, मराठी, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, ગુજરાતી, Portuguese, Ukrainian

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.