[A therapeutical approach by administering reduced glutathione to patients with uremic anemia].
OBJECTIVE
To verify the therapeutical effect of exogenous reduced glutathione (GSH) on the patients with uremic anemia.


METHODS
Forty two patients with uremic anemia were randomly divided into treatment group and control group. All patients received subcutaneously recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) at the dose of 3000U twice a week for 12 weeks. Each of the patients in the treatment group was given intravenously reduced glutathione at the dose of 1200 mg twice a week for 12 weeks. The measurements of hemoglobin, red blood cells and hematocrit were performed.


RESULTS
After administration of r-HuEPO, the levels of hemoglobin, red blood cells and hematocrit were significantly elevated in both treatment and control groups (P < 0.01). The levels of hemoglobin, red blood cells and hematocrit in treatment group were elevated much more obviously, compared with those in control group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings seem to indicate that exogenous GSH could enhance the effect of r-HuEPO on uremic anemia, and therefore it might represent a useful drug in the treatment and management of uremic anemia.
Xia
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Division of Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital, WCUMS, Chengdu 610041, China.
Qu
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S
D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D005978:Glutathione