1. [Hemo-rheologic changes following treatment with human recombinant erythropoietin in chronic hemodialysis patients].
- Author
-
Melappioni M, Giansanti R, Boemi M, Baldassari M, Baldini S, Pierangeli T, Radicioni R, Fumelli P, and Panichi N
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Anemia etiology, Erythrocyte Deformability drug effects, Erythropoietin adverse effects, Female, Fibrinogen analysis, Hematocrit, Hemoglobins analysis, Humans, Immunologic Factors adverse effects, Lipids blood, Male, Middle Aged, Recombinant Proteins adverse effects, Recombinant Proteins therapeutic use, Uremia blood, Uremia complications, Uremia therapy, Anemia therapy, Blood Viscosity drug effects, Erythrocyte Aggregation drug effects, Erythropoietin therapeutic use, Immunologic Factors therapeutic use, Renal Dialysis
- Abstract
Human recombinant erythropoietin constitutes a remarkable improvement in the treatment of uraemic anemia. Nevertheless, it causes haemorheological changes, which in turn may affect smaller blood vessel circulation. Our study was conducted on a pool of chronic uraemic patients under hemodialytic treatment who were given erythropoietin therapy. Substantial increases in overall blood viscosity and red cell aggregation were recorded, with no change in erythrocyte deformation. An increase in cardiovascular morbidity might occur in these patients who are already liable to this condition. Several years will have to elapse and thorough studies will have to be conducted on a large number of patients, to have conclusive evidence on this point.
- Published
- 1992