[The effect of hemodialysis on levels of beta-endorphin in serum of patients with chronic renal failure treated with erythropoietin].

In CRF patients many endocrine abnormalities were observed. BE levels are elevated in CRF patients and HD treatment do not decrease it. In the other hand during rHu-EPO therapy many changes previously observed during CRF, in hormones concentrations partially are normalised. The aim of present study was to find answer on the following questions: 1. Are there any differences in plasma BE levels between hemodialysed CRF patients treated with rHu-EPO and in untreated, 2. Does rHu-EPO therapy have any influence on plasma BE level during HD session? Fourty CRF hemodialysed patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consist of 18 patients (10 female and 8 male with mean age 41.6 +/- 16.3 years) treated with rHu-EPO during last 3-9 months (50 u.i./kg b.m.) intravenously after each HD session. Group II consist of 22 patients (11 both female and male with mean age 46.2 +/- 17.9 years) untreated with rHu-EPO. From CRF patients blood sample were taken 4 times: before HD, in 120 min. of HD in front of and behind dialyzer and in 240 min. This procedure was provided follow HD sessions using bicarbonate buffer with polysulphone dialyzer. Control plasma BE concentration was established from 40 healthy subjects with mean age 39.6 +/- 12.7 years as 24.9 +/- 7.6 pmol/l. Plasma BE level was assessed using RIA method (INCSTAR). Mean plasma BE level in control group was significantly lower then in CRF groups. There were no differences in plasma BE levels between examined CRF groups. We concluded that elevated in CRF patients plasma BE concentration does not modify by rHu-EPO treatment and that in both examined groups plasma BE concentration does not change during HD session.