Short term correction of anaemia with recombinant human erythropoietin and reduction of cardiac output in end stage renal failure.

Children with end stage renal failure and anaemia have an increased cardiac index and often gross ventricular hypertrophy. The contribution of anaemia to these abnormalities is uncertain. Eleven children with end stage renal failure and anaemia (haemoglobin concentration < 90 g/l) were enrolled into a single blind, placebo controlled, crossover study to assess the cardiovascular effects of reversing anaemia using subcutaneous human recombinant erythropoietin (r-HuEpo). Each limb lasted 24 weeks; seven children completed both limbs of the study. Haemoglobin increased with r-HuEpo, remaining above 100 g/l for a mean of 11 weeks. Cardiac index fell as a result of a reduction in both left ventricular stroke volume and heart rate. Left ventricular end diastolic diameter also decreased. In five children left ventricular wall thickness and left ventricular mass decreased with r-HuEpo, but this failed to reach significance for the whole group. Blood pressure did not change in six normotensive children completing an r-HuEpo limb; the decrease in cardiac index was therefore balanced by an increase in peripheral vascular resistance. Three children were taking anti-hypertensive treatment at the start of the study; one required an increase, and one a decrease, in treatment during the r-HuEpo limb. Short term treatment with r-HuEpo reduces cardiac index. A longer study is needed to determine whether this will, in time, result in a significant reduction in left ventricular hypertrophy.