Correction of hemodialysis anemia is associated with significant increase in serum concentration of IGF-I in patients treated with erythropoietin: a randomized controlled study.
BACKGROUND
The effect of erythropoietin (EPO) therapy on the serum level of IGF-I among hemodialysis patients is debated. The aim of this study is to study the effect of EPO on the erythropoiesis and the change of serum level of IGF-I among adequately hemodialyzed patients.


METHODS
Forty patients (25 males and 15 females) who had an adequate level of both hemodialysis and nutrition were randomly allocated into two equal groups. Besides parenteral iron, the first group of patients received a conventional EPO dose regimen of 2000 U subcutaneously (SC) thrice weekly, the second group of patients remained on parenteral iron and ranked as a control group. The patients were subjected to thorough laboratory investigations. IGF-I concentration was measured before and at the end of the study.


RESULTS
Both groups were comparable in their demographic, laboratory, dialysis level, and nutritional status. There was no statistical differences in hemoglobin, hematocrit %, iron store indices and serum level of IGF-I at the study entry. We found a significant rise of both hemoglobin and hematocrit as well as IGF-I serum level in the EPO group at the end of the study in comparison to their values at the starting points in comparison to the control group (P< 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Erythropoietin therapy enhances erythropoiesis and modulates the serum concentration of IGF-I.
Sheashaa
Hussein A
HA
Nephrology Unit, Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. drhattia@yahoo.com
Khalil
Abdalla
A
Aarman
Mohammed M El
MM
El-Shahat
Fagr B
FB
Selim
Amal
A
El-Gawad
Soma Sherif Abd
SS
D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*
D004921:Erythropoietin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I