Treatment of Anemia of Chronic Renal Failure Patients Maintained by Chronic Hemodialysis with Low Dose Recombinant Human Erythropoietin

Abstract

Thirteen patients undergoing regular hemodialyis for end-stage renal failure entered a trial of treatment for anemia with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO). All received 2,000 U of r-HuEPO subcutaneously twice weekly throughout six months of trial. The average hematocrit increased significantly from 20.77% at the control period to 24.27% (P < 0.05) with five of them had the hematocrit level above 25%. Alter the administration of r-HuEPO blood transfusions were eliminated as compared with 15 units of blood that needed in the control period. Side effects were 2 episodes of vascular access occlusion and 5 patients had diastolic blood pressure increased more than 10 mmHg.