[Calcitriol: role in the regulation of erythropoiesis, use in the treatment of renal anemia].

The efficiency of combined therapy (erythropoietin + calcitriol) used in 8 patients with chronic renal failure on programmed hemodialysis was comparatively evaluated with erythropoietin monotherapy employed in 9 patients with the same disease on hemodialysis which represented a control group. The anti-anemia effect was achieved on the average of 5 weeks earlier in the group of patients given the combined therapy than that in the controls. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant in the rate of anti-anemia effect achievement. Possible mechanisms by which calcitriol enhances the anti-anemia effect of erythropoietin, i.e. the mediated effects and direct action of calcitriol on erythropoiesis, are discussed in the paper.