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health advisory Hospital Doctor Yu 2007-11-8 19:08:52

Answers:

hypertension is high blood pressure

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it was not discussed in length why epoetin was contraindicated for patients with hypertension. It was mentioned that hypertension was a recorded side effect during trials. I have my own theory..maybe the increase in red blood cells.increases blood volume, increasing blood pressure.

hope the link below helps.

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catsmyname was close to the correct answer. Epo increases the blood count and therefore the viscosity of blood. The higher the viscosity the worse the hypertension could be. Please note that this is not an "absolute contraindication" but a "relative contraindication" which means a patient with HTN may use it, but the MD has to consider the cost/benefit of it.

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E(rythr)opoeitin is commonly used to increased the hematocrit level (number of re blood cells) in a person with anemia due to kidney disease. Generally, the blood pressure rises even before the hematocit goes up. This suggests that epoeitin causes constriction of blood vessels leading to an increase in blood pressure.

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