[An echocardiographic study of the left ventricular functional indices in pediatric patients on hemodialysis and in treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO)]

Abstract

Recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) is efficient in the treatment of anaemia in chronic renal failure on hemodialysis. We investigated the changes in cardiac function under r-HuEPO therapy using echocardiography. Seven patients with severe renal anaemia (Ht 19%) were treated with 50 U/kg r-HuEPO EV three times/week. Echocardiographic studies were performed in the anemic state and when hematocrit values were stable at levels (Ht 30%). Left ventricular function as showed by fractional shortening (D%) improved, the thickness of the interventricular septum and left ventricular hypertrophy were reduced. Our data indicate that the correction of renal anaemia by r-HuEPO can improve myocardial function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.