[Clinical and metabolic effects of erythropoietin administration in hemodialyzed children].

The study aimed at the evaluation of metabolic effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) in children treated with repeated hemodialyses. The research included 16 patients aged 7-17 years of life. The observations were carried out for 6 months prior to and during EPO administration programme. In that time there were monitored changes in peripheral blood count, lean body mass, protein catabolic rate- pcr, urea time averaged concentration TAC and dialysis index KT/V. The results obtained in both phases of the investigation revealed that correction of anemia by means of EPO evokes in children a significant increase of lean body mass, while TAC decreases. The two factors combined speak for anabolic effect of EPO in these patients. The results of peripheral blood count obtained in the groups with high and acceptable exposure to uremic toxemia did not differ significantly, this proves that uremic toxemia does not exert inhibitory effect on erythropoiesis stimulated by EPO administration.