Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Vol 13, Issue 90002 13-15, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
Y Vanrenterghem and J Vanwalleghem
The possibility of lower efficacy and the fear of an increased incidence of
side effects may explain the reluctance to use recombinant human
erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) in patients with impaired renal function who do
not yet require dialysis, as well as in transplanted patients with a
failing renal allograft. Several recent studies have clearly shown that
r-HuEPO is effective in these patient populations and that the doses needed
to control anaemia are comparable with or lower than those needed for
dialysis patients. When started at a low dose, the risk of severe
hypertension is minimal, although in a significant number of patients
intensification of the antihypertensive regimen is needed. Moreover there
are no indications that the use of r-HuEPO accelerates the deterioration of
residual renal function.Key words: anaemia;
erythropoietin; pre-dialysis; renal transplantation
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Benefits and concerns of treating pre-dialysis and renal transplant patients with recombinant human erythropoietin
Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B3000 Leuven, Belgium; Corresponding author
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