High-dose erythropoietin has no effect on short- or long-term graft function following deceased donor kidney transplantation.
We evaluated short- and long-term effects of high-dose recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in kidney transplantation in a prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients with chronic kidney disease following receipt of a deceased donor kidney allograft were randomized to 3 doses of 40,000 units rHuEPO or placebo. The primary study end point was kidney function 6 weeks after transplantation with secondary end points of incidence of delayed graft function and kidney function 12 months after transplantation. Six weeks or 12 months after transplantation, the difference between estimated glomerular filtration rates was not significant comparing 44 patients who received rHuEPO to 44 patients receiving placebo. There was no significant difference regarding the incidence of delayed graft function (10 of 44 with rHuEPO compared with 14 of 44 on placebo). Protocol biopsies at 6 weeks and 6 months post transplant showed no significant differences in all assessed histological indices. The number and severity of adverse events were comparable between groups, as was patient and graft survival after 12 months. Thus, treatment with high-dose rHuEPO after kidney transplantation, although well tolerated, had no effect on long-term graft function or histology.
Department of Internal Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Carsten
C
Hafer
Thomas
T
Becker
Jan T
JT
Kielstein
Elisabeth
E
Bahlmann
Anke
A
Schwarz
Nikolai
N
Grinzoff
Daria
D
Drzymala
Isabelle
I
Bonnard
Nicolas
N
Richter
Frank
F
Lehner
Juergen
J
Klempnauer
Hermann
H
Haller
Jana
J
Traeder
Danilo
D
Fliser
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D051799:Delayed Graft Function / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
D004921:Erythropoietin