Annals of clinical and laboratory science
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A review of the pertinent literature on the relation of erythropoietin production to the presence of renal neoplasm suggests that erythropoietin may be produced either directly by the tumor or indirectly by its physical effect on the adjoining normal renal tissue. The most commonly found tumors which are associated with elevated levels of serum and urinary erythropoietin are the hypernephromas. However, the presence of erythropoietin and an associated erythrocytosis even here occurs only relatively infrequently. ⋯ In some patients with Wilms' tumor, erythropoietin blood levels may also be increased; however, erythrocytosis in these patients is not a characteristic feature. Other renal tumors rarely produce erythrocytosis and presumably no erythropoietin. Possible explanations for the production of erythropoietin by renal tumors are discussed.