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Use of artificial erythropoietin (EPO) in medicine and in sports

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Describe some of the positive and negative uses of artificial erythropoietin (EPO) in medicine and in sports. What do you think about the current rules which ban EPO use by Olympic athletes? You may start your discussion by describing the source and function of natural EPO.

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The expert describes some of the positive and negative uses of artificial erythropoietin in medicine and in sports.

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EPO

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a naturally-occurring hormone, produced by the kidneys, that stimulates the production of red blood cells (RBC). This hormone can also be manufactured and injected into the skin or directly into the blood stream (intravenously). EPO may be used in medical practice to bring patient's RBC into normal levels in case of anemia.

Positive uses of EPO in Medicine:
1) Kidney disease patients : Recombinant human erythropoietin is given in the treatment of kidney disease patients on hemodialysis, in whom anemia is a major concern due to both the disease and the dialysis.
2) AIDS patients : It is given to AIDS patients on AZT ...

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