Influence of erythropoietin treatment on plasma renin activity, aldosterone, vasopressin and atrial natriuretic peptide in haemodialyzed patients.

In 5 haemodialyzed patients the influence of 3 months' erythropoietin (EPO) treatment on plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone (Ald), vasopressin (AVP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was studied. Results were compared with those obtained in 7 uraemic patients showing a similar haematocrit value as patients after EPO therapy and with those obtained in 10 healthy subjects. EPO treatment did not influence significantly blood pressure but was suppressing PRA and plasma Ald levels, and raising plasma ANP concentrations. EPO treatment was without influence on AVP plasma levels. Data obtained in this study suggest that EPO-induced endocrine alterations are not due to increased blood volume and only partially related to improvement of uraemic anaemia.