SUCCESSFUL ERYTHROPOIETIN TREATMENT FOR SEVERE ANEMIA IN NEPHROTIC SYNDROME WITHOUT RENAL DYSFUNCTION

A 62-year-old woman presented with nephrotic syndrome and severe anemi a although the renal function was not impaired. Renal biopsy revealed the histology of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and the pro teinuria was resistant to steroid therapy. Iron deficiency, bleeding a nd other causes of anemia were ruled out, however, her serum erythropo ietin level was inappropriately low. The anemia was rapidly corrected by administration of recombinant human erythropoietin. It is suggested that inappropriately low erythropoietin level, in part at least, acco unts for the anemia in nephrotic Syndrome. It is proposed that erythro poietin therapy should be taken into consideration for severe anemia i n nephrotic syndrome even when the renal function is not impaired.