Effect of Erythropoietin Treatment on Nutritional Status of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Seventeen patients -10 females, 7 males -mean age 52 years (range: 21–77 years), on CAPD for an average of 35 months (range 10–160 months) were studied. Mean initial dose of EPO was 114±45 U/kg/week subcutaneously (range: 59–209). The dose was adjusted to achieve and maintain a target Hb of 100 g/L and Hct 30%. Fifteen of the patients (88.2%) achieved this target within 6 months [baseline to month 6 changes: Hb 72±10 g/L to 107±12 g/L (p=0.0001); Hct 22±3% to 33±4% (p=0.0001)]. Serum total protein also increased significantly over the time of EPO use (p=0.0133); changes from baseline were significant by the fourth month [68±9 g/L to 72±9 g/L (p=0.0115)]. Serum albumin also increased significantly over time (p=0.0157). The change from the baseline result (37±4 g/L) was statistically significant by month 2 (p=0.0060) and was maintained over the following 4 months [month 6 result: 40±3 g/L (p=0.0180)]. The increase was greater for 8 patients with initial serum albumin <35 g/L (mean change 5.75 g/L) than for the 9 subjects with levels >35 g/L (mean change 0.11 g/L). In a comparison group of 17 patients (matched for age, sex, duration of CAPD, underlying disease and antihypertensive treatment), who did not receive EPO treatment, albumin and protein did not appear to increase over time. Mean body weight increased from 60.9± 14.0 kg at the start to 62.1± 13.9 kg at month 6 (p=0.281) and the absolute lymphocyte count from 1.6±0.8 x 109/L to 1.8±1.0 x 109/L (p=0.0472). Serum potassium, urea, creatinine, phosphorus, cholesterol, tri. glycerides, WBC and platelets did not show significant changes over time. Serum phosphorus increased at the end of the second and third months (from 1.6±0.5 mmol/L to 1.9±0.4 and 1.8±0.4 mmol/L and then decreased at the sixth month (1.7±0.5 mmol/L); this is probably due to an increase in phosphate binders in 9 of 17 patients. An improvement in appetite, sleep and well-being, by patients’ self-assessment, was noted during the treatment. We conclude that the treatment with EPO is associated with improvement of the nutritional status of patients on CAPD.