ACUTE EFFECT OF TRANDOLAPRIL ON SERUM ERYTHROPOIETIN IN UREMIC AND HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Anemia associated with ACE inhibitors is rare but it may cause problem s especially In patients with renal disease. This study assessed the a cute effect of trandolapril, an ACE inhibitor, on serum erythropoietin (EPO) levels in uremic and hypertensive patients, Trandolapril 2 mg/d ay was given orally for three days and blood samples were collected on the first and third day, Trandolapril led to a significant decrease i n serum EPO in patients with chronic renal failure. Although the drug lowered serum EPO in hypertensive patients, this effect was not statis tically significant. This drop in serum EPO levels may be one of the m echanisms by which ACE inhibitors cause anemia, or worsen anemia, in u remic patients and further studies are needed to clarify this point.