| Abstract | Six anemic hemodialysis patients dependent on regular blood transfusions and with massive iron overload were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-huEPO). The effect on absolute reticulocyte count, hemoglobin and serum ferritin was studied during a twenty-week period. Red-cell volume and red-cell life span were measured with 51Cr-tagged erythrocytes at baseline and after twenty weeks of r-huEPO. Absolute reticulocyte counts and hemoglobin concentration rose markedly (from 55.6 +/- 31.2 to a maximum of 174.9 +/- 31.0 x 10(9)/l at 4 weeks and from 6.8 +/- 0.3 to a maximum of 11.2 +/- 1.3 g/dl at 12 weeks, respectively, p less than 0.001) without any further need for transfusions. Red-cell volumes increased concomitantly (from 58 +/- 4 to 81 +/- 11% of normal, p less than 0.005), in spite of a persistent shortening of red-cell life span (45 +/- 18 and 47 +/- 4 days before and after r-huEPO). Markedly elevated serum ferritin concentrations indicating iron overload decreased slowly from 3,550 +/- 1,615 to 2,721 +/- 1,506 micrograms/l (p less than 0.05). It is concluded that r-huEPO is very effective in treating the anemia of patients maintained on hemodialysis. The favorable effects on hemoglobin and red-cell volumes occur in spite of persistent hemolysis and lead to a slow reduction of iron overload. |
| Authors | C Zehnder, A Blumberg
(Affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kantonsspital Aarau, Switzerland.)
|
| Journal | Clinical nephrology
(Clin Nephrol)
Vol. 31
Issue 2
Pg. 55-9
(Feb 1989)
ISSN: 0301-0430 GERMANY, WEST |
| PMID | 2920469
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
|
| Chemical References |
- Recombinant Proteins
- Erythropoietin
|
| Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Anemia
(blood, drug therapy, etiology, therapy)
- Blood Transfusion
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Drug Evaluation
- Erythrocyte Aging
(drug effects)
- Erythrocyte Count
(drug effects)
- Erythrocyte Transfusion
- Erythropoietin
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Female
- Humans
- Kidney Failure, Chronic
(blood, complications, therapy)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Recombinant Proteins
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Renal Dialysis
- Time Factors
|
