Erythropoietin is not a steroid, but it is a glycoprotein that acts upon
the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. Various stimuli such as
bleeding or higher altitudes trigger the body’s own release EPO. Because EPO
increases the hematocrit, it enables much more oxygen to be delivered to
skeletal muscle, which has made EPO very popular among endurance athletes in
the past for blood doping. EPO is produced primarily by the kidneys,
secondarily by the liver, and tertiarily by the brain, but a synthetic or
recombinant version of EPO is available in 1 mL vials. A typical dose of EPO
will last one day but the effect is seen 5 days later when the red blood
cell proliferation it has induced is mature enough for release into
circulation. Doses are initially given subcutaneously 3 times per week with
an iron supplement taken orally, but EPO is a dangerous drug that can have
serious side acute problems to occur. The smallest side effect of concern is
increased blood pressure, but there are many other side effects that are
much more serious. Keep in mind that athletes (endurance and weightlifters)
already have an above average red blood cell count so increasing the
hematocrit more can lead to fatal problems if EPO is used unwisely. When the
hematocrit becomes too high, arteries can literally clog, can cause heart
attacks, cardiac failure, and pulmonary edema (common with vertical altitude
limit exposure). If EPO should ever be used, extreme caution is a necessity.
Return to Profiles |