Tumori
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Anemia is common in cancer patients, especially in those with more advanced stages of progressive tumor growth, the frequency varying on type of cancer, stage and chemotherapy or radiation therapy used. The pathophysiology is multifactorial. However the most common anemia is the anemia whose features are similar to those seen in other chronic diseases (anemia of chronic disease--ACD). ⋯ No significant adverse effects of rHuEPO administration have been reported in any of the studies published to date. It can be concluded that rHuEPO therapy may be safe and effective in selected surgical patients, in stimulating erythropoiesis, in expanding the circulating RBCs mass, in increasing the volume of AB that can be collected pre-operatively and, consequently, in reducing the exposure to homologous blood. Therapy with rHuEPO may prove to be a useful addition to existing strategies of blood conservation to minimize exposure to HB.