Therapeutic effect of erythropoietin combined oral iron in patients with chronic heart failure accompanied by anemia

Abstract

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of erythropoietin (EPO)combined oral iron in patients with chronic congestive heart failure( CHF)accompanied by anemia. Methods Ninety six patients with CHF accompanied by anemia, whom were consecutively hospitalized from January 2007 to December 2009, were enrolled into this study. They were randomly divided into treatment group accepted routine anti-heart failure therapy combined EPO and oral iron, and control group solely accepted routine anti-heart failure therapy. After 6 months follow up, the changes of hemoglobin ( Hb ), cardiac function classification, left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) ,6-minute walking distance,readmission rate of CHF and cardiac death were compared between two groups. Results Compared with those before therapy, we found significant improvements of hemoglobin level ( [ 120. 12 ± 10. 42 ] g/L vs [ 86.40 ± 14. 30 ] g/L, P ＜ 0. 01 ), cardiac function classification ( 2. 65 ± 0. 67 vs 3. 13 ±0. 61, P ＜ 0. 01 ), LVEF ( [ 37.21 ± 4. 96 ]％ vs [ 33. 92 ± 7. 28 ]％, P ＜ 0. 01 ), 6-minute walking distance ( [ 443.52 ± 97. 39 ] mvs [ 379. 15 ± 59. 34 ] m, P ＜ 0. 01 ) in treatment group after EPO combined oral iron administration. After 6 months follow up, we also found significant improvements of Hb level ( [ 120. 12 ±10. 42 ] g/L vs [ 86. 40 ± 14. 30 ] g/L, P ＜ 0. 01 ), cardiac function classification ( 2.65 ± 0. 67 vs 2. 98 ± 0. 81,P＜0.01),LVEF([37.21 ± 4.96]％ vs [34.67 ±4.10]％,P ＜ 0. 01),6-minute walking distance ( [443.52 ±97. 39 ] mvs [ 379. 15 ± 59. 34 ] m, P ＜ 0. 01 ) in the comparison between treatment and control group. The readmission rate of CHF fell significantly in treatment group compared to control (20. 83％ vs 39. 58％ ,P ＜ 0. 05 ). However, we found no significant difference in cardiac death rate ( 0％ vs 4. 17％, P ＞0. 05). Conclusion Treatment of EPO combined oral iron could significantly improve the cardiac function,increase exercise tolerance,lower the readmission rate of CHF in patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF)accompanied by anemia. Key words: Erythropoietin; Oral iron; Chronic congestive heart failure; Anemia