Serum erythropoietin and interleukin-6 levels in hemodialysis patients with hepatitis virus infection

The influence of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on blood hemoglobin (Hb) and serum erythropoietin (Epo) and interleukin-6 (IL -6) concentrations was studied in 48 anemic patients on regular hemodialysi s. They were grouped as follows: (I) 19 patients whose Db values improved a fter infection (Hb > 85 g/L), (II) 10 patients with persisting anemia after infection (Hb < 75 gn), and, without hepatitis virus markers (III) 8 patie nts with Db > 85 g/L and (IV) 11 patients with Hb < 75 g/L, Serum immunorea ctive Epo levels were significantly higher in group I (34.4 +/- 47.1 Un) th an in the other groups (II, 10.8 +/- 6.0; III, 7.9 +/- 3.2; IV, 8.4 +/- 4.3 ). Serum IL-6 was higher in group I than group III (7.7 +/- 7.8 pg/ml vs. 3 .6 +/- 2.4; p = 0.05) but similar to the other groups. Db levels in group I were maximal at the time of serum alanine aminotransferase normalization. Red cell production increases as a result of elevated circulating Epo durin g hepatic regeneration after HBV or HCV infection.