[Erythropoietin treatment of dialysis patients].

The effect of recombinant human erythropoietin therapy on correction of renal anaemia was evaluated. A total of 100 patients with endstage renal disease and anaemia (level of haemoglobin < 9.6 g/dl) received erythropoietin for 125 patient years. In 81 patients the level of haemoglobin increased to the intended range (10.5-12.0 g/dl) within three to four months. In 16 of the patients acute infections were followed by a temporary reduction in the haemoglobin level. In 11 patients a previous transfusion requirement was reduced, or, in most cases, abolished. In the remaining eight patients the transfusion requirement was unchanged. The patients with either a sub-optimal or no response suffered from chronic infections, malignant diseases or recurrent bleeding episodes. In 28 patients the level of haemoglobin exceeded the intended target for a period of four months (average). Serious side effects were not observed. Six patients had 'flu-like symptoms after the first injections. Three cases of thrombosis of the arterio-venous fistula were observed in two patients. The frequency of thrombosis of the vascular access did not exceed what we expected to find.