title: Normalization of hematocrit with recombinant human erythropoietin in chronic hemodialysis patients does not fully improve their exercise tolerance abilities.
abstract: In the recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) treatment of renal anemia, the target level has widely been accepted as approximately 30% of hematocrit (Hct) which means only partial improvement of the anemia. We tried to maintain 1 female and 9 male patients within a normal Hct and to estimate their exercise tolerance abilities. During the study, no serious complications were experienced. Their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), evaluated for 1-6 months after reaching the desired Hct of 35-40% with rHuEPO, was 30.7 +/- 2.4 ml of O2/kg/min. These results were significantly higher than those of the control groups whose Hct levels were maintained at around 30%. Although 1 female and 2 male patients were considered to be within the normal exercise tolerance abilities, the others showed lower values in comparison with the Japanese age- and sex-matched values. Thus, it is not always possible to regain full exercise tolerance abilities even after restoring a normal Hct. Unknown factors besides anemia impairing their exercise tolerance abilities might exist in chronic dialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Kidney Center and Cardiology Section, Shinraku-En Hospital, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirasawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006224:Cricetinae; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin