RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Previous studies in rodents from different kinds of shock models and isolated vessel models indicate that erythropoietin (EPO) has haemodynamic effects through interaction with sympathetic stimuli. This has relevance to the recently described non-haematopoietic effects of EPO, e.g. tissue protective effects. Studies describing the acute effects on integrated physiological haemodynamic variables in larger animal models are scarce though. AIM: To examine the acute effects of EPO on standard physiological haemodynamic parameters as well as a possible synergistic effect of a sympathetic agonist (dopamine) and EPO on these parameters. RESULTS AND DESIGN: A porcine model was applied. Invasive haemodynamic variables were recorded at baseline, during 2 h after EPO injection and with addition of dopamine. Significant changes were only seen with addition of dopamine. Thus cardiac output increased only significantly in control group (21% versus 4%, P<0.05), and accordingly a decline in systemic vascular resistance was only seen in the control group (19% versus 5%, P< 0.05) with addition of dopamine. Pulmonary vascular resistance increased in EPO group (42% versus unchanged, P<0.05). There was a trend towards increase in left ventricular contractility as measured by slope of the pressure-volume relation (E(max)) in EPO group with addition of dopamine. CONCLUSION: Erythropoietin has small but significant haemodynamic effects on the response to a sympathetic agonist in the present minimal invasive porcine model.