Once weekly subcutaneous erythropoietin is an effective maintenance therapy in the treatment of anemia of end stage renal disease in patients on CAPD.

The efficacy of once weekly subcutaneous erythropoietin (SC EPO) was evaluated by reviewing records of twelve continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients age 27-66 years after achieving a goal hematocrit (hct) greater than 30%. Patients had a mean hct of 22.8% (range: 19.1-29.5) and were placed on a thrice weekly SC EPO dose of 4000 international units (IU) (37-74 IU/KG, [mean of 57 IU/kg]) until a goal hct greater than 30% was achieved. This hct ranged from 30.8-37% (mean 33.2%) and was achieved in a mean of 11.5 weeks (range: 4.1-29 weeks). Patients were then maintained on the same SC EPO dose given only once weekly. 11/12 (92%) patients have maintained a mean hct of 34% (range: 29-38.4%) on once weekly SC EPO over a mean period of 14 weeks (range: 1.4-36 weeks). The mean serum ferritin was 484; only two patients required parenteral iron dextran therapy. One patient did not reach the goal hct due to poor compliance. There was no significant increase in blood pressure or in serum potassium level. We conclude that SC EPO is effective in treating anemia in these patients and can be given once weekly to maintain a hct greater than 30%.