The Potential Role of Erythropoietin as a Pleiotropic Agent in Post-cardiac Arrest Syndrome

Title: The Potential Role of Erythropoietin as a Pleiotropic Agent in Post-cardiac Arrest Syndrome

Volume: 17 Issue: 15

Author(s): Theodoros Xanthos, Panagiotis V.S. Vasileiou, Sotirios Kakavas, Aggeliki Syggelou and Nicoletta Iacovidou

Affiliation:

Keywords: Erythropoietin, Cardiac arrest, Post-cardiac arrest syndrome, Neuroprotection, Cardioprotection, Anti-oxidant, hematopoietic, heterotrimer, dysfunction, reperfusion, homeostasis, cardiopulmonary, leukocytes, apoptotic, P-selectin, astrocytes, hypoxic, necrosis

Abstract: Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death worldwide with survival rates still remaining suboptimal. Unfortunately, most cardiac arrest patients, who achieve return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), develop a multi-faceted post-cardiac arrest syndrome, including post-cardiac arrest brain injury, myocardial dysfunction, and systemic ischemia/reperfusion response.

Erythropoietin (EPO), the principal hematopoietic hormone regulating erythropoiesis, exhibits diverse cellular effects in nonhematopoietic tissues. Due to its anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties, as well as its angiogenic action, EPO plays a role in neuroprotection and cardioprotection. In this regard, EPO represents a promising agent in the cardiac arrest setting, based on a therapeutic strategy that focuses on the post-resuscitation phase.

This review aims to provide a comprehensive account of EPOs role in the treatment of each individual component of post-cardiac arrest syndrome.

Cite this article as:

Xanthos Theodoros, V.S. Vasileiou Panagiotis, Kakavas Sotirios, Syggelou Aggeliki and Iacovidou Nicoletta, The Potential Role of Erythropoietin as a Pleiotropic Agent in Post-cardiac Arrest Syndrome, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2011; 17 (15) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161211796197115