[Treatment of anemia in patients on a regular dialysis program using human recombinant erythropoietin].

Five women aged 50-64 years with chronic renal failure, due to interstitial nephritis, enlisted in a regular dialyzation programme were treated for three months with human recombinant erythropoietin. The blood haemoglobin level rose from 78.0 +/- 6.9 g/l to 108.4 +/- 15.5 g/l, the haematocrit from 21.8 +/- 1.8% to 33.6 +/- 4.9%. The serum ferritin concentration declined from 2213 +/- 1892 micrograms/l to 850 +/- 953 micrograms/l. Contrary to the period before treatment, during erythropoietin administration no blood transfusion had to be administered. The general condition of the patients improved. There were no serious complications. The action of erythropoietin persisted for two months. Human recombinant erythropoietin is significant help in the treatment of patients with chronic renal failure.