Once recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) was introduced in daily practice, huge steps were made in combating the adverse effects induced by anemia in chronic kidney disease population. Still, r-HuEPO resistance and the doses ensuring the maximum therapeutic benefit remain matters of debate. The aim of our study was to assess the correlation between the presence and the degree of inflammation and the r-HuEPO requirements in chronic dialysis patients. We conducted a 2 years prospective study on 146 patients undergoing chronic dialysis treated with r-HuEPO. Based on their average CRP (C-reactive protein) levels, obtained from repeated samplings at 3 months interval, 3 groups were formed; we noted in each group the average values of r-HuEPO prescribed to achieve the optimum hemoglobin levels according to the dialysis best practice guidelines and all the adverse effects of the therapy. A direct correlation was observed between CRP levels and r-HuEPO requirements in the first 2 groups of patients (CRP under 6 mg/L and CRP values 6-20 mg/L), with significant increase in r-HuEPO doses between groups (p [ 0.001); the third group, CRP values over 20 mg/dL, showed a minor, insignificant increase in average r-HuEPO doses compared to mild inflammation group (p = 0.199) and more adverse effects of the therapy (p [ 0.05). Inflammation is an important determinant of anemia in chronic dialysis patients and can induce an increase in the doses of r-HuEPO. However, prescribing excessive r-HuEPO doses is not the answer in severe inflammatory status, due to lack of response and possible adverse effects.
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