NEW HORMONES IN THE THERAPEUTIC ARSENAL OF CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE - GROWTH-HORMONE AND ERYTHROPOIETIN

The advent of recombinant DNA technology has had a significant impact on the practice of medicine. Nowhere has the impact been felt more tha n in the population of children with chronic renal failure and end-sta ge renal disease. The provision of recombinant human growth hormone an d recombinant human erythropoietin therapy has improved the quality of life of these children in a manner matched only by cyclosporine in th e past decade. This article discusses the basic concepts behind the de velopment of growth retardation and anemia in association with chronic renal failure and the roles played by recombinant human growth hormon e and recombinant human erythropoietin therapy in the treatment of the se problems.