Lipid profile in haemodialysis patients treated with recombinant human erythropoietin.
BACKGROUND
The long-term effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on the blood-lipid profile has not been well documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether rhEPO therapy affects the lipid pattern.


METHODS
A group of 102 maintenance haemodialysis patients were treated for 2 years with rhEPO given intravenously at the end of the dialysis session. Attempts were made to keep the haemoglobin (Hb) at 10-11 g/dl and/or the haematocrit (Hct) at 30-35%. Twenty maintenance haemodialysis patients not treated with rhEPO were examined as controls. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A1 and B, and lipoprotein (a)[Lp (a)] were assessed at baseline (without rhEPO), and 1 and 2 years after the beginning of treatment. Hb, Hct and ferritin were measured monthly, and Kt/v was evaluated monthly and kept above 1.1.


RESULTS
During follow-up, in both groups, there was a significant increase in Apo A1 and no significant changes in the other lipid parameters. In the treated group, Hb and Hct increased significantly after the fourth month of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Erythropoietin therapy does not affect significantly the levels of total cholesterol, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, Apo B and Lp (a) in maintenance hemodialysis patients.
Department of Nephrology, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal.
M M
MM
Prata
C
C
Madeira
O
O
Vicente
M J
MJ
Miguel
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006435:Renal Dialysis
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D006454:Hemoglobins; D008055:Lipids; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin