Abstract
We estimated the effects of long-term erythropoietin (EPO) administration to hemodialysis patients (HD Pts) on endothelial cell injury. Thirty HD Pts were administered EPO for 12 weeks. Hematocrit increased from 6.4 to 9.5g/dl. Blood pressure did not change. Plasma Endothelin decreased from 24.9±8.6pg/ml to 14.7±3.4pg/ml. ANP, ALD, PRA, ATII, and ADH did not change. Protein C and S significantly decreased at 4 weeks. We conclude that EPO did not abbreviate endothelial cell injury.