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Androgen-Erythropoietin-EPO Axis

Meaning

The Androgen-Erythropoietin-EPO Axis describes the crucial regulatory interrelationship between androgen hormones, primarily testosterone, and the glycoprotein hormone erythropoietin (EPO), which serves as the body’s principal regulator of red blood cell production. Androgens exert a direct stimulating effect on erythropoiesis, contributing to the typically higher hematocrit and hemoglobin levels observed in the male population compared to the female population. Clinical recognition of this axis is vital when managing patients with hypogonadism or chronic kidney disease, as monitoring red blood cell parameters is a necessary safety and efficacy measure during exogenous androgen administration. This hormonal interaction highlights a significant non-reproductive role of sex steroids in human hematopoiesis and oxygen-carrying capacity.