Importance of iron status monitoring during erythropoietin treatment in uremic predialysis patients.

Since recombinant human erythropoietin (r-Hu EPO) has been introduced to the treatment of anemia in uremic patients the issue of optimal therapy appeared. For proper erythropoiesis not only erythropoietin but also iron, folic acid and B12 vitamin are needed. Iron deficiency is one of the most common factors causing resistance to r-Hu EPO in uremic patients, so its recognition and eventual supplementation is required for optimal hemopoietic response. The aim of presented study, besides monitoring hematological changes, was to measure iron status parameters such as iron, transferrin, ferritin and percentage of hypochromic erythrocytes and estimation of their usefulness in monitoring iron deficiency during r-Hu EPO treatment.