Use of recombinant human erythropoietin in renal transplant recipients

Hippokratia 1999, 3(1):23-28

G Vergoulas, Gr. Miserlis, F. Solonaki, G. Imvrios, V. Papanikolaou, A. Antoniadis


Abstract

Fifteen renal transplant recipients, mean age 36 years (11 men) with chronic transplant nephropathy (serum creatinine 3,9 mg/dl) and renal anemia (Hb 7,34 g/dl) were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin β for four months. In all these patients anemia improved and mean hemoglobin level increased to 9,3 g/dl. Mean serum creatinine increased to 4,20 mg/dl but the progression of graft failure was not influenced when compared with pretreatment levels of serum creatinine measured three months before erythropoietin treatment. Mean blood pressure levels remained stable but 5 patients required additional antihypertensive medication.