[Effect of erythropoietin on some rheological and biochemical properties of blood in dialysed patients with irreversible kidney failure. Preliminary results].

6 patients with symptomatic renal anaemia treated with haemodialysis (3F, 3M, aged 41 +/- 17 years) were given r-Hu EPO in initial dose of 50 U/kg, modified during the treatment, according to the Hkt, and Hgb values. Some biochemical and rheological properties of blood taken before treatment showed: normochromic and normocytic anemia with Hkt 22.7 +/- 1.7% Hgb 6.81 +/- 1.6 g% and normal reticulocytosis: significant (p less than 0.001) decrease of whole blood viscosity (WBV) at low shear rate (2.25 x sec-1) and high shear rate (225 x sec-1) related to Hkt values, and significant increase of red celles aggregation (RCA) (p less than 0.02) in comparison to healthy persons. Plasma viscosity (PV), serum fibrinogen, protein and albumin were normal. In 4 patients treated with r-Hu EPO for 12 weeks at least, we observed an increase Hkt to 36.7 +/- 2% and Hgb to 11.2 +/- 1.2 g% and a significant increase of WBV at high shear rate (p less than 0.05), normalization of RCA and improvement of the filtrability of whole blood. No side effects were observed, especially insufficient control of blood pressure. Our preliminary results indicate that our treatment of renal anemia with r-Hu EPO was clinically effective, safe and had positive influence on blood rheology.