[The effect of treatment with human recombinant erythropoietin on the functional status of patients on maintenance hemodialysis].

As many as ten patients with terminal uremia on maintenance hemodialysis (MH) performed from 11 to 52 months (28 +/- 4 on the average) were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhERP) manufactured by Cilag (Switzerland). The preparation was injected i.v. in the initial dose 65 U/kg bw thrice a week after each session of MH. If the effect was lacking for 2 weeks, the doze was augmented by 25 U/kg (maximally up to 218 U/kg). Provided the Hb content increased to 100-120 g/l, the maintenance therapy was initiated (108 +/- 13 U/kg). The treatment lasted 17 +/- 2 weeks. As a result, the Hb content in the patients rose from 63.0 to 102.0 g/l, the hematocrit index from 21.2 to 34.4%, the red blood cell count from 2.09 to 3.18 x 10(12)/l; there was a transitory increase of the reticulocyte and platelet counts (from 2.2 to 3.3% and from 172.0 to 284.0 x 10(9)/l) whereas the leukocyte count remained unchanged. It has been demonstrated by the bicycle ergometry data that in addition to the amelioration of the hematological parameters, the patients showed an increase of oxygen consumption at rest, rise of the economy of energy losses at exercise, and a decline of oxygen "cost" of work. According to echocardiography, the patients manifested a reduction of the size of the left heart, of the minute and stroke volumes. In men, the treatment with rhERP brought about libido elevation in the absence of significant alterations in the blood gonadotrophin and testosterone concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)