There are many hormones that assist in the production of blood cells and platelets, regulating blood pressure, protection of blood cells and blood clotting.  Where a patient has constant issues with blood pressure or keeping adequate levels of iron, analysis of hormones should be considered.

Erythropoietin (EPO, haematopoietin or haemopoietin)

Erythropoietin is produced mainly in the kidney, by interstitial cells.  Once the hormone is made it protects red blood cells against destruction.  It also stimulates stem cells of the bone marrow to increase the production of red blood cells.

Angiotensin

Angiotensin is a hormone that helps regulate your blood pressure by constricting (narrowing) blood vessels and triggering water and sodium intake.  Angiotensin is part of linked hormones, enzymes, proteins and reactions called the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

There are four different forms of angiotensin: Angiotensin I–IV.  Angiotensin II is the main and active form of the hormone.  If your body has too little or too much angiotensin, it can cause health issues.

Angiotensin II binds to several receptors and affects many different systems and functions, including:

• Stimulating the release of aldosterone from your adrenal glands, which causes your body to retain sodium and lose potassium through your urine.
• Increasing blood pressure by narrowing blood vessels.
• Triggering the sensation of thirst through your hypothalamus.
• Triggering the desire for sodium through your hypothalamus.
• Stimulating the release of antidiuretic hormone from your pituitary gland, which causes your kidneys to reabsorb water. (1)

Thrombopoietin

Thrombopoietin is the chemical mediator that regulates the number of platelets in the blood by stimulating an increase in the number and growth of megakaryocytes, thus controlling the rate of platelet production.

Vasopressin

Vasopressin is known as an antidiuretic hormone.  It maintains the appropriate volume of water in the space that surrounds cells within the body.  It plays a role in regulating circadian rhythm, maintains the body’s internal temperature, blood volume and the proper flow of urine from the kidneys.  Nerve cells at the base of the brain (hypothalamus) make and transport vasopressin to the pituitary gland, which then releases the hormone into the bloodstream  If your body produces too much vasopressin, your kidneys may retain water.  If you don’t have enough vasopressin, your kidneys may excrete too much water.  This causes frequent urination and can lead to dehydration, as well as low blood pressure. (2)

Aldosterone

Aldosterone is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands.  It supports the regulation of blood pressure mainly by acting on organs such as the kidney and the colon to increase the amount of sodium reabsorbed into the bloodstream and to increase the amount of potassium excreted in the urine.  Aldosterone also causes water to be reabsorbed along with sodium; this increases blood volume and therefore blood pressure. (3)

Hepcidin

Hepcidin is a peptide hormone produced in the liver that plays a crucial role in iron production and uptake.  Serum iron levels must be tightly regulated to ensure an adequate supply is available for hemoglobin synthesis, without allowing iron overload to occur in the body.  Hepcidin decreases the level of iron by reducing dietary absorption and inhibiting iron release from cellular storage.  Too much hepcidin can lead to problems like iron deficiency, where your body doesn’t absorb enough iron.  Too little hepcidin can cause iron overload, where your body absorbs too much.

Prostaglandins

Most hormones are produced by glands and transported in the bloodstream.  Prostaglandins are produced at the site where they are needed, are produced in nearly all body cells and are part of the body’s way of dealing with injury and illness, where there is inflammation, pain and fever.  When a blood vessel is injured, a prostaglandin called thromboxane stimulates the formation of a blood clot; a muscle in the blood vessel wall contracts to try to prevent blood loss.  Another prostaglandin called prostacyclin has the opposite effect to thromboxane, reducing blood clotting and removing any clots that are no longer needed and causing the muscle in the blood vessel wall to relax.  The opposing effects that thromboxane and prostacyclin have on the blood vessels can control the amount of blood flow and regulate response to injury and inflammation. (4)

References:

1. Professional, C. C. M. (n.d.-a). Angiotensin. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23359-angiotensin
2. Cassata, C. (2023, September 22). What is vasopressin? EverydayHealth.com. https://www.everydayhealth.com/vasopressin/guide/
3. Aldosterone | You and Your Hormones from the Society for Endocrinology. (n.d.). https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/aldosterone
4. Prostaglandins | You and Your Hormones from the Society for Endocrinology. (n.d.). https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/prostaglandins/