Pure red-cell aplasia induced by anti-erythropoietin antibodies in peritoneal dialysis.

There have been several recent reports of pure red-cell aplasia (PRCA) mediated by anti-erythropoietin antibodies (AEA) in patients with chronic renal failure treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO). Among the factors thought to trigger this mechanism is the subcutaneous administration of EPO. Despite this being the normal route of administration in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD), to date there has only been 1 described case of PRCA due to AEA in PD. Herein, we report such a case involving a patient in whom a diagnosis of anemia due to PRCA was particularly difficult to make because of concomitant rectal bleeding.