Pleiotropic effect of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents on circulating endothelial progenitor cells in dialysis patients.

Background: Recent studies have suggested that erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) may accelerate not only angiogenesis but also vasculogenesis, beyond erythropoiesis.

Methods: We conducted a 12-week prospective study in 51 dialysis patients; 13 were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO, 5290.4 ± 586.