Erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) was administered to 6 client-owned dogs and 11 client-owned cats with naturally developing chronic renal failure. This drug stimulated erythropoiesis in both species. Variable improvement in the well-being of the patients was observed with increasing hematocrits. Adverse side-effects included seizures in patients without seizure history prior to administration; hypersensitivity reactions at injection sites; anti-r-HuEPO antibody production with resulting anemias; systemic hypertension; and iron deficiency. Clinicians should weigh the pros and cons of r-Hu-EPO before administering this drug to canine and feline patients (Cowgill et al, JAVMA 212: 521-528, 1988).

When serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is increased on routine panels, veterinarians often request the steroid-induced (SI) ALP measurement. Frequently, this SIALP level is elevated and the lab recommends ruling out Cushing's disease or exogenous corticosteroid administration. However, if further diagnostic testing fails to confirm Cushing's disease and no exogenous steroids have been given, clinicians may become confused. According to Feldman (Textbook of Vet Int. Med., W.B. Saunders, 1995, p. 1551) "A major concern with an abnormal SIALP is the inability to distinguish three disorders commonly confused with naturally occurring hyperadrenocorticism; iatrogenic Cushing's, diabetes mellitus, and hepatopathies. The conclusion reached by most groups has been that finding no SIALP in the serum may have diagnostic value in ruling out the diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism but that an increase in SIALP can be caused by a variety of disorders and must be considered nonspecific."