Erythropoietin-Stimulating Agent (ESA)

A medicine used to help the bone marrow bone marrow: The soft, spongy tissue inside most bones. Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow. make more red blood cells. Epoetin alfa Epoetin alfa: Epoetin alfa can help improve red blood cell counts in bone marrow failure disease patients whose natural erythropoietin levels are low. It is given by injection under the skin (subcutaneous) or in the vein (intravenous). Epoetin alfa is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for… (Epogen, Procrit) and darbepoetin alfa darbepoetin alfa: It is in a class of medicines called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). Darbepoetin alfa can help improve red blood cell counts in bone marrow failure patients whose natural erythropoietin levels are low. It is given by injection under the skin (subcutaneous) or in the vein (intravenous)… (Aranesp) are erythropoietin erythropoietin: (i-rith-row-POY-uh-tun) A protein made by the kidneys. Erythropoietin, also called EPO, is created in response to low oxygen levels in the body (anemia). EPO causes the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. A shortage of EPO can also cause anemia. -stimulating agents that can help boost the red blood cell red blood cell: The most numerous type of blood cell in healthy people. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that picks up oxygen in the lungs and brings it to cells in all parts of the body. Also called erythrocyte, RBC. count of some bone marrow failure bone marrow failure: A condition that occurs when the bone marrow stops making enough healthy blood cells. The most common of these rare diseases are aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Bone marrow failure can be acquired (begin any time in life) or can be… patients. Also called red blood cell growth factor red blood cell growth factor: See erythropoietin-stimulating agent. .