title: Benefits and concerns of treating pre-dialysis and renal transplant patients with recombinant human erythropoietin.
abstract: The possibility of lower efficacy and the fear of an increased incidence of side effects may explain the reluctance to use recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) in patients with impaired renal function who do not yet require dialysis, as well as in transplanted patients with a failing renal allograft. Several recent studies have clearly shown that r-HuEPO is effective in these patient populations and that the doses needed to control anaemia are comparable with or lower than those needed for dialysis patients. When started at a low dose, the risk of severe hypertension is minimal, although in a significant number of patients intensification of the antihypertensive regimen is needed. Moreover, there are no indications that the use of r-HuEPO accelerates the deterioration of residual renal function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vanrenterghem
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vanwalleghem
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012449:Safety
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin