Effect of Erythropoietin Treatment on Nutritional Status of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Abstract

Seventeen patients--10 females, 7 males--mean age 52 years (range: 21-77 years), on CAPD for an average of 35 months (range 10-160 months) were studied. Mean initial dose of EPO was 114 +/- 45 U/kg/week subcutaneously (range: 59-209). The dose was adjusted to achieve and maintain a target Hb of 100 g/L and Hct 30%. Fifteen of the patients (88.2%) achieved this target within 6 months [baseline to month 6 changes: Hb 72 +/- 10 g/L to 107 +/- 12 g/L (p = 0.0001); Hct 22 +/- 3% to 33 +/- 4% (p = 0.0001)]. Serum total protein also increased significantly over the time of EPO use (p = 0.0133); changes from baseline were significant by the fourth month [68 +/- 9 g/L to 72 +/- 9 g/L (p = 0.0115)]. Serum albumin also increased significantly over time (p = 0.0157). The change from the baseline result (37 +/- 4 g/L) was statistically significant by month 2 (p = 0.0060) and was maintained over the following 4 months [month 6 result: 40 +/- 3 g/L (p = 0.0180)]. The increase was greater for 8 patients with initial serum albumin < 35 g/L (mean change 5.75 g/L) than for the 9 subjects with levels > 35 g/L (mean change 0.11 g/L). In a comparison group of 17 patients (matched for age, sex, duration of CAPD, underlying disease and antihypertensive treatment), who did not receive EPO treatment, albumin and protein did not appear to increase over time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)