noun
- A hormone produced mainly by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells in bone marrow.
Usage: medical/scientific term; often abbreviated as EPO
Examples
- Erythropoietin levels increase at high altitudes to help the body produce more red blood cells.
- Patients with chronic kidney disease often have low erythropoietin production.
- The doctor ordered a blood test to measure the patient's erythropoietin levels.
- Synthetic erythropoietin is used to treat anemia in some medical conditions.
- Athletes have been known to abuse erythropoietin to enhance oxygen-carrying capacity.