Resumo

VALDIVIA ACOSTA, Alain  e  MARTINEZ SANCHEZ, Gregorio. Foundations of the clinical use of erythropoietin as a neuroprotective agent . Rev Cubana Farm [online]. 2008, vol.42, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-2988.

The neuroprotective properties of erythropoietin were reported for the first time in preclinical studies approximately a decade ago. The possible mechanism of neuroprotective action of this hormone has not been cleared yet, but here are diverse hypotheses. Erythropoietin has showed good results in preclinic as a neuroprotective agent and there is still a long way to go to attain an adequate effectivity and safety in the clinic in this sense. Research is being carried out to obtain an erythropoietin with neuroprotective activity that lacks or at least has a diminished hematopoietic activity. To reduce its adverse effects, to achieve a significant bioavailability to the central nervous system, to prolong its mean life and to avoid this way a high frequency of administration to the patient, is our main objective. In this paper, it is made a search of the mechanisms of neuroprotective action proposed for erythropoietin so far, and important considerations that may influence on its use in the clinic are stressed.

Palavras-chave : Erythropoietin; neuroprotective; clinic; mechanism of action; adverse effects; safety.