title: Human recombinant erythropoietin in anaemic patients on maintenance haemodialysis. Secondary effects of the increase of haemoglobin.
abstract: Twelve anaemic patients on haemodialysis were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin, starting with 72 IU/kg/week. The dose was doubled after 2 weeks until an increase of 2 g/dl of haemoglobin was observed. The effects on various parameters were studied during a 3-month period. Haemoglobin increased from 6.70 +/- 0.74 to 10.49 +/- 1.04 g/dl (mean +/- SD, P less than 0.001), potassium from 5.51 +/- 0.50 to 6.06 +/- 0.65 mmol/l (P less than 0.005), phosphate from 1.78 +/- 0.40 to 2.17 +/- 0.40 mmol/l (P less than 0.001) and the calcium phosphorus product from 4.3 to 5.2 (P less than 0.001). Three patients developed marked periarticular inflammation due to calcified deposits with a high calcium-phosphorus product of 6.8. An increase in arterial blood pressure was observed in three previously well-controlled hypertensive patients, one of whom developed hypertensive encephalopathy. We conclude that recombinant human erythropoietin is very effective in treating the anaemia of end-stage renal failure on haemodialysis. Regular estimations of serum potassium and phosphate are mandatory. In hypertensive individuals a further increase in blood pressure is possible.
authors.affiliation: Department für Innere Medizin, Kantonsspital Aarau, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zehnder
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Glück
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Descoeudres
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Uehlinger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blumberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010489:Periarthritis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D010710:Phosphates; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin