Abstract
Epoetin-alpha (α-group) and epoetin-beta (β-group) were administered to regular hemodialysis (RHD) patients. With regard to initial effect in improving anemia, the difference in increase in hematocrit between 13 α-group patients and 12 β-group patients was not significant, nor was there a significant difference in maintenance dose between 37 α-group patients and 19 β-group patients. These studies suggest that epoetin-alpha is equal to epoetin beta in therapeutic efficacy. rEPO was administered to 20 RHD patients for 104 weeks. The mean±SD hematocrit increased from 20.6±1.8 to 27.9±3.2%. Phosphate, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and potassium did not increase significantly, uric acid was the only exception. The dose of aluminum agents and cation exchange resins, however, did require supplementation. In addition, the dialyzers of two patients had to be exchanged for a larger models because of the increase in blood urea nitrogen. These facts suggest an increase in a variety of parameters. AntiHTLV-1-positive and antiHCV-positive RHD patients were treated with rEPO. The difference in maintenance dose between the positive and negative patients was not significant. This suggests that HTLV-1 and HCV virus infection do not have any influence on the effect of treatment.
