Abstract
In order to clarify abnormalities of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in hemodialysis patients, some new molecular markers for hemostasis and thrombosis, including α2-plasmin inhibitor·plasmin complex (PIC), fibrinfibrinogen degradation products (FDP-E, FDP D-dimer), thrombin·antithrombin III complex (TAT) and soluble fibrin monomer complexes (SFMC), were examined in comparison with normal subjects. Thirty four maintenance hemodialysis patients, 17 males, 17 females, average age 61.1 years, average hemodialysis period 4 years 5 months, were investigated. PIC, FDP-E and FDP D-dimer were significantly higher in the hemodialysis patients than in normal subjects. Similarly, TAT and SFMC were significantly higher in the hemodialysis patients. The effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis were also evaluated in 18 maintenance hemodialysis patients. Each patient received erythropoietin injections for about 3 months. PIC, TAT and SFMC were significantly higher in the hemodialysis patients after the administration of the erythropoietin as compared to pretreatment levels. These results suggest that the abnormalities of coagulation and fibrinolysis exist in maintenance hemodialysis patients, and moreover, that erythropoietin enhances these abnormalities after the patients' recovery from anemia.
