INCREASED SERUM ERYTHROPOIETIN LEVEL DURING AZATHIOPRINE TREATMENT INRENAL-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

One hundred and six renal transplant patients were studied. During the first 12 months after renal transplantation all patients were treated with cyclosporine (Cy) and prednisone. At 12 months after transplanta tion the patients were randomly allocated to either conventional treat ment with azathioprine (At) and prednisone (group Az) or to continued treatment with Cy and prednisone (group Cy). Serum erythropoietin (s-E PO), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and hematocrit (Hct) were measur ed at 12, 18 and 24 months after transplantation. s-EPO rose in the gr oup Az from 19 U/l (mean) at 12 months to 28 U/l (p < 0.01) at 18 mont hs and remained elevated at 24 months at 29 U/l compared with baseline level and with healthy subjects without anemia Is U/l (p < 0.01). The re was no significant change in s-EPO in group Cy during the study. Th e Hct in the two groups was not significantly different. GFR was the s ame in the two groups at 12 months and after 24 months. In conclusion, a switch from Cy to Az 1 year after renal transplantation results in a sustained rise in s-EPO which may in part represent a compensatory p henomenon to bone marrow suppression.