title: Dialysis efficiency in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients treated with erythropoietin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of subcutaneous erythropoietin treatment on dialysis efficiency in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dialysis efficiency, platelet and white cell aggregation, and red cell deformability were measured monthly for six months in nine anaemic CAPD patients treated with erythropoietin, and on a single occasion in seven control CAPD patients with intrinsically high haemoglobin concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Renal dialysis unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients stable on CAPD for a minimum of six months and with haemoglobin concentrations less than 8.5 g/dl were treated with erythropoietin. Seven CAPD patients matched for age and renal function, with haemoglobins greater than 9.0 g/dl served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Daily peritoneal clearances and net ultrafiltration volumes were unchanged when haematocrit increased from 25.0 +/- 2.2% to 36.5 +/- 3.5%. Spontaneous whole blood platelet aggregation was significantly increased from week twelve (pre-treatment aggregation 46 +/- 23%; 12 weeks: 67 +/- 19%, p less than 0.05; 16 weeks: 64 +/- 19%, p less than 0.01; 20 weeks: 71 +/- 16%, p less than 0.01; 24 weeks: 73 +/- 10%, p less than 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase in haematocrit and platelet aggregation associated with erythropoietin treatment did not affect peritoneal clearances or ultrafiltration capacity.
authors.affiliation: Renal Unit, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: MacTier
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Belch
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin