To investigate the response of EPO to anemia in polytransfused β-Thal. patient, the serum EPO levels and hemoglobin (Hb) levels in 40 polytransfusedβ-Thal. patients and in 18 iron deficiency anemia (IDA) patients and 32 normal healthy subjects were performed. Serum EPO levels were assayed by enzyme immunoassay. In both groups of β-Thal. and IDA, serum EPO levels were sign. higher (114±71 and 239±217 mU/ml, respectively)than normal (9±4 mU/ml). There was a significant inverse relationship between log EPO values and Hb levels in patients with β-Thal. (r=0.61; p<0.01) and IDA (r=0.81; p<0.01). In a semilogarithmic plot, the slope of the regression line in β-Thal. was sign. lower than that of IDA(p<0.01), suggesting a blunted EPO response. The elevation of serum EPO inβ-Thal. was poorly related to clinical variables except serum ferritin.(*p<0.05) Table

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Conclusions: There exists a significant inverse relationship between serum EPO levels and Hb concentration in patients with β-Thal. However, this EPO response in patients with anemia due to β-Thal. may be blunted when compared to patients with IDA.