title: [Significance of parenteral iron administration for HCV-positive hemodialysis patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is well recognized that parenteral iron administration is recommended for hemodialysis (HD) patients treated with rHuEPO. On the other hand, hepatic iron concentration increases in chronic hepatitis C, and iron reduction improves serum transaminase levels in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the rHuEPO doses with hematological parameters in HCV-positive (n = 7) and HCV-negative (n = 32) HD patients when parenteral low-dose iron was administered for one year (target ferritin level: 200-300 ng/ml, target hematocrit level: 30-33%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the parameters was significantly different between the groups at the start of the study. One year later, levels of hematocrit and serum ferritin significantly increased compared with those at the start in each group (HCV-positive group: 28.0 +/- 2.7-->31.3 +/- 1.5%, p < 0.01, 119.3 +/- 171.9-->303.3 +/- 77.7 ng/ml, p < 0.05, respectively, HCV-negative group: 26.8 +/- 2.2-->30.0 +/- 3.5%, p < 0.01, 69.8 +/- 100.5-->278.4 +/- 66.4 ng/ml, p < 0.01, respectively). Serum transaminase levels were not significantly different between the start and end points in the HCV-positive group, but 2 patients showed an increase in these levels. In the HCV-negative group, the rHuEPO dose at the end point was significantly reduced compared with that at the start (4,875 +/- 2,089-->4,031 +/- 2,203 IU/W, p < 0.05). In the HCV-positive group, however, it was difficult to reduce the rHuEPO dose in order to maintain the target hematocrit level (4,071 +/- 1,134-->3,857 +/- 1,464 IU/W, NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggested that rHuEPO should be used together with parenteral iron administration, even in HCV-positive HD patients, because it is safe at low doses under careful observation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Miyagino Hospital, Miyagi, Japan.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kurihara
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D007501:Iron