ERYTHROPOIETIN-ASSOCIATED HYPERTENSIVE POSTERIOR LEUKOENCEPHALOPATHY

Human recombinant erythropoietin is used to treat chronic anemia in pa tients with end-stage renal failure. Erythropoietin causes hypertensio n, and hypertensive encephalopathy has been associated with its use. W e describe six dialysis-dependent, chronic renal failure patients who developed hyper tension, headache, and seizures while on erythropoieti n. Four of the six patients had posterior white matter changes on neur oimaging. The encephalopathy was managed by prompt antihypertensive an d anticonvulsant treatment and by discontinuation of erythropoietin. H ypertensive posterior leukoencephalopathy is associated with erythropo ietin use.