Can human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) be considered as cardiological medicine

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is a hormone essential for normal erythropoiesis. The rHuEPO receptor is distributed in the cardiovascular system predominantly in endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. RHuEPO has potentially beneficial effects on cardiovascular system, including anti-apoptic, mitogenic and angiogenic activity. On the other hand rHuEPO improves anemia observed in some patients with heart failure. Direct cardiac activity of rHuEPO and indirect influence on anemia suggest that rHuEPO therapy is safe and useful in chronic heart failure patients and other cardiovascular settings.