RECOMBINANT-HUMAN-ERYTHROPOIETIN (EPOETIN ) AND AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD-TRANSFUSION IN CHRONIC HEMODIALYZED PATIENTS - ABOUT 2 OBSERVATIONS

Recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin) is sometimes used in order to enhance autologous blood predonation before scheduled hemorragic su rgery. This procedure reduces and some times better avoids homologous blood transfusions with their disadvantages. In certain circumstances, it will be of particular importance and, despite of its cost, has to be discussed for several surgical operations in some patients. Among t hem, pre-dialysis and dialysis patients can benefit of autologous bloo d transfusion if their anemic state and the response to epoetin and ir on supplementation allow a sufficient and well-tolerated preoperative collection. As such observations are rare, we report two successful ca ses of autologous transfusion strategy with epoetin therapy in chronic hemodialyzed patients undergoing orthopedic surgery.