Background:Despite the severe derangement of gas exchange in the advanced stages of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), secondary erythrocytosis is either absent or much lower than is seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with comparable hypoxemia. This study investigates the differences in erythropoiesis between IPF and COPD, searching for the possible underlying mechanisms. Material/Methods:The study included 32 patients with COPD, 18 patients with IPF, all with overt hypoxemia (PO[sub]2[/sub]

Keywords: Anoxemia - blood, Anoxemia - physiopathology, Erythroid Progenitor Cells - cytology, Erythroid Progenitor Cells - pathology, Erythroid Progenitor Cells - physiology, Erythropoiesis - physiology, Erythropoietin - blood, Pulmonary Fibrosis - blood, Pulmonary Fibrosis - physiopathology, Anoxia - physiopathology, Blood Gas Analysis, Erythroid Precursor Cells - physiology, Erythropoiesis - physiology, Erythropoietin - blood, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology, Pulmonary Fibrosis - physiopathology