EFFECT OF HEMODIALYSIS AND RECOMBINANT-HUMAN-ERYTHROPOIETIN ON DETERMINANTS OF BLOOD-VISCOSITY

Blood viscosity (hemorheology) is a major determinant of the rate of b lood flow, and increases in viscosity are known to be involved in the etiology of vascular diseases. This placebo-controlled study investiga ted the independent and combined effects of hemodialysis and recombina nt human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) on determinants of blood viscosity in patients with chronic renal failure and related any changes to the no rmal physiological range. Hemodialysis patients were shown to have a h igh incidence of theological abnormalities although the degree of anem ia associated with chronic renal failure compensated for these changes . The main effect of both hemodialysis and rHuEPO treatment was an inc rease in hematocrit associated with a rise in blood viscosity and inco nsistent changes in red blood cell (RBC) deformability. The rise in vi scosity was significant only following rHuEPO treatment. Hemodialysis- induced increases in blood and plasma viscosity correlated strongly wi th the degree of hemoconcentration. Although hemodialysis patients hav e inherent hemorheological abnormalities, correction of renal anemia w ith rHuEPO to a hematocrit level of < 0.35 in conjunction with dialysi s-induced hemoconcentration did not result in adversely high blood vis cosity levels in any patient.