PLASMA ENDOTHELIN IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS TREATED WITH RECOMBINANT-HUMAN-ERYTHROPOIETIN

Predialysis plasma endothelin (ET) values were followed during the fir st 8 weeks of rHuEpo treatment in 12 patients on routine haemodialysis . Mean plasma ET was significantly increased in uraemic patients befor e rHuEpo (27.9 +/- 11.4 pmol/l), as compared to 40 healthy controls (1 6.5 +/- 5.7 pmol/l) (P<0.0001). Under rHuEpo treatment, predialysis va lues remained unchanged although diastolic blood pressure increased af ter 2 and 6 weeks. We found no correlation between ET and haemoglobin or blood pressure before or under rHuEpo treatment. These results conf irmed the high levels of plasma ET in haemodialysis patients, but no i ncrease was observed during rHuEpo treatment.