Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2010 Mar;117(3):343-7. doi: 10.1007/s00702-009-0354-2. Epub 2009 Dec 12.
Erythropoietin (EPO) acts as a neuroprotective factor and is upregulated after neuronal injury. It has been reported that in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, the EPO concentration is decreased. In this study, EPO levels in serum and CSF of 30 patients with ALS and in 15 controls, using an ELISA technique, were estimated. EPO level in serum was decreased, especially in patients with bulbar onset ALS. A trend toward a progressive EPO decline with the duration of the disease in the mild + moderate ALS cases was observed. In severe cases, a tendency towards a positive correlation of EPO and duration of the disease was present. Serum EPO values were age related only in mild + moderate ALS in patients below 40 years of age. In CSF, the EPO levels were significantly decreased. Lower EPO values in the bulbar onset ALS when compared with the spinal onset ALS were present. The EPO decrease did not correlate with the severity and duration of the disease. Age relation of the EPO level only in the mild + moderate ALS cases more than 40 years was present. Lack of differences in EPO levels between patients with ALS of rapid and slow progression indicates that EPO concentration cannot be used as a prognostic factor. Nevertheless, the decreased serum and CSF EPO concentration and the known EPO neuroprotective action may indicate that EPO administration can be a new promising therapeutic approach in ALS.
促红细胞生成素（EPO）作为一种神经保护因子，在神经元损伤后上调。据报道，在肌萎缩侧索硬化症（ALS）患者的脑脊液（CSF）中，EPO 浓度降低。在这项研究中，使用 ELISA 技术估计了 30 名 ALS 患者和 15 名对照者血清和 CSF 中的 EPO 水平。血清 EPO 水平降低，尤其是在延髓起病的 ALS 患者中。在轻度+中度 ALS 病例中，观察到随着疾病持续时间的延长 EPO 逐渐下降的趋势。在严重病例中，存在 EPO 与疾病持续时间呈正相关的趋势。血清 EPO 值仅在 40 岁以下的轻度+中度 ALS 患者中与年龄相关。CSF 中的 EPO 水平显著降低。与脊髓起病 ALS 相比，延髓起病 ALS 的 EPO 值较低。EPO 减少与疾病的严重程度和持续时间无关。仅在 40 岁以上的轻度+中度 ALS 病例中存在 EPO 水平与年龄的关系。ALS 患者中快速和缓慢进展的 EPO 水平无差异表明，EPO 浓度不能用作预后因素。然而，血清和 CSF 中 EPO 浓度的降低以及已知的 EPO 神经保护作用可能表明，EPO 给药可能是 ALS 的一种新的有前途的治疗方法。
