The effect of erythropoietin on exercise capacity, left ventricular remodeling, pressure-volume relationships, and quality of life in older patients with anemia and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
A prospective, open-label, 3-month study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and short-term clinical effect of subcutaneous erythropoietin injections in patients with anemia and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (ejection fraction, 55%+/-2%). Using a dose-adjusted algorithm to effect a rate of rise in hemoglobin not to exceed 0.4 g/dL /wk, hemoglobin (10.8+/-0.3 to 12.2+/-0.3 g/dL) and red blood cell volume (1187+/-55 to 1333+/-38 mL) increased with an average weekly dose of 3926 units. Functional measures increased from baseline (6-minute walk test [289+/-24 to 331+/-22 m], exercise time [432+/-62 to 571+/-51 s], and peak oxygen consumption [8.2+/-0.7 to 9.4+/-0.9 mL/kg/min], all P<.05). End-diastolic volume declined significantly (8% volumetric decrease, 108+/-3 to 100+/-3 mL, P =.03), but there were no significant changes in left ventricular mass or estimated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Pressure-volume analysis demonstrated a reduction in ventricular capacitance at an end-diastolic pressure of 30 mm Hg without significant changes in contractile state.
Cohen
Rose S
RS
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Karlin
Paula
P
Yushak
Madeline
M
Mancini
Donna
D
Maurer
Mathew S
MS
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology*; D002302:Cardiac Output; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
D004921:Erythropoietin