HUMAN ERYTHROPOIETIN IMPROVES THE BLOOD-PLATELET PHOSPHOLIPID-COMPOSITION IN CHRONICALLY HEMODIALYZED PATIENTS

Phospholipids play an essential role in platelet structure and functio n. In uremic patients an abnormal platelet phospholipid pattern is obs erved. We examined the influence of recombinant human erythropoietin ( rhuEPO) on platelet phospholipid composition in hemodialyzed patients. Before rhuEPO therapy, phosphatidylethanilamine, phosphatidylinositol , and phosphatidylcholine were significantly reduced as compared with a healthy control group. After rhuEPO treatment, the phosphatidylethan olamine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylcholine concentrations showed a significant increase. We conclude that rhuEPO partially norma lizes the platelet phospholipid composition in uremia.