INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES IN THE RESPONSE TO RECOMBINANT-HUMAN-ERYTHROPOIETIN THERAPY

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) was administered subcutaneou sly to 20 predialysis and 21 hemodialysis (HD) patients. Anemia improv ed in all patients but individual differences in the rate of hemoglobi n (Hb) increase were noted. The analysis of the factors possibly respo nsible for the individual differences in the response to rHuEpo therap y revealed the same factors correlating with Hb increase rate in both predialysis and HD patients. Patient age, body weight, serum creatinin e, iron, ferritin, transferin levels and transferin saturation had no significant influence on the rate of Hb increase. Statistically signif icant negative correlation between initial Hb and erythropoietin level s (Epo) and Hb increase rate was found. The response to rHuEpo therapy also depended on the underlying kidney disease. Patients with glomeru lonephritis (GN) and Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) responded better to rHuEpo therapy than those with tubulointerstitial nephropathy othe r than BEN. This better response to rHuEpo therapy in patients with GN and BEN is in accordance with already established negative correlatio n between the initial both Hb and Epo levels and response to rHuEpo th erapy.