Nandrolone decanoate is a good alternative for the treatment of anemia in elderly male patients on hemodialysis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficiency of nandrolone decanoate (ND) in the control of anemia in elderly male patients on hemodialysis (HD), and to determine its influence on nutritional parameters.


METHODS
A prospective 6-month study with randomization of patients on recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) therapy into two groups. Group A: rHuEPO was stopped before starting treatment with ND. Group E: rHuEPO was continued.


METHODS
Renal unit, tertiary-care center.


METHODS
14 male patients in Group A and 19 patients, 12 males and 7 females, in Group E.


METHODS
In Group A rHuEPO was stopped and ND 200 mg/I.M. weekly was given over six months.


RESULTS
The increase in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels was progressive with ND, and significant differences (p < 0.003) were evident after six months (9.6 +/- 1.0 vs 11.0 +/- 1.4 and 28.9 +/- 4.7 vs 33.0 +/- 4.7, respectively), which remained unmodified in Group E. Group A showed a significant increase in serum creatinine, total protein, transferrin and anthropometric parameters. These parameters remained stable and even presented a tendency to decrease in Group E. There was a significant rise in the concentration of triglycerides and a significant decrease in both HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-1 in Group A. However, lipoprotein (a) decreased significantly. No significant changes were detected in Group E.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of ND would allow us an acceptable treatment of anemia as well as a better nutritional condition in elderly male patients on dialysis.
Gascón
A
A
General Hospital Obispo Polanco, Teruel, Spain.
Belvis
J J
JJ
Berisa
F
F
Iglesias
E
E
Estopiñán
V
V
Teruel
J L
JL
D000368:Aged; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009277:Nandrolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D009277:Nandrolone; D000077603:Nandrolone Decanoate