Association between erythropoietin requirements and antihypertensive agents.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACI) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) have been reported to increase recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) requirements. We performed a cross-sectional study to investigate an association of antihypertensive agents including these two with the rHuEPO dose in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Methods: We studied 625 patients undergoing hemodialysis therapy in 11 dialysis units.

Diagnostic value of serum prostate-specific antigen in hemodialysis patients.

Background: The value of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening was examined to detect prostate cancer in men receiving hemodialysis.

Methods: Forty-one male patients age 60-95 (median age, 70 years) receiving hemodialysis were investigated for PSA levels. We set the cut-off point at 4 ng/mL (the usual reference range).