Influence of recombinant human erythropoietin on hematological and hemostatic parameters with special reference to microhemolysis.
Twenty chronic hemodialysis patients with renal anemia (hematocrit < 25%) received recombinant human erythropoietin (40 IU/kg body weight 3 x weekly) intravenously after each dialysis. Prior to and at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after commencement of erythropoietin therapy, hematocrit together with hemostasis and microhemolysis parameters were determined. There were significant increases in hematocrit, platelet count and platelet retention, but a significant fall in the initial clearly prolonged bleeding time. Free plasma hemoglobin likewise increased. Conversely, lactate dehydrogenase, prothrombin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin III activity, protein C activity and protein S concentration were all unaltered. The positive effect on bleeding time and platelet retention is most probably caused by an increase in adenosine diphosphate due to the hematocrit-dependent rise in the blood shear stress via physiologic microhemolysis (raised free plasma hemoglobin).
Maurin
N
N
Medical Clinic II, University Hospital Aachen, Germany.
Fitzner
S
S
Fritz
H
H
Gladziwa
U
U
H agel
J
J
Stefanidis
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin