by Patrick Arnold - EPO is sold in recombinant form (rhEPO) for
injection. It usually is packaged as a lyophilized (freeze dried) powder
that is reconstituted with sterile water before injection. One popular form
is called Epogen (r), and it is made for subcutaneous usage. A starting
dosage is typically 20 i.u. per kilogram bodyweight, 3 times/week. After two
to four weeks, a maintenance dose of 20 i.u. /kg BW can be taken once a
week.
EPO use can be very dangerous if the user allows their hematocrit to creep
too high. The ideal hematocrit for athletic performance is thought to be 55
(expressed in percent). Levels above this can result in "sludging" of the
blood, which reduces microcirculation. This is counterproductive to oxygen
transport. Additionally, at high hematocrit levels one is at greater risk
for deadly vascular events such as stroke, especially if he/she becomes
dehydrated during competition (which increases hematocrit even further).
In addition to increasing aerobic efficiency through greater oxygen
transport in the blood, there is some evidence suggesting EPO may also have
anabolic effects. EPO has been shown in rat studies to substantially
increase weight gain and injury repair after surgery. Furthermore, EPO
receptors are present on myoblasts (immature muscle cell progenitors) and
may have a potential in muscle development and repair.
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