Cardioprotective effect of erythropoietin preparations in patients with chronic renal failure

Abstract

Aim. To investigate effects of early correction of anemia on the rate of cardiovascular complications and survival on regular hemodialysis (RHD). Material and methods. Eighty patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) on regular hemodialysis entered two groups: group 1 with hemoglobin (Hb) 100 g/l (п = 44). 90% patients of group 2 were treated for renal anemia for 6-8 months ofpreanalysis CRF. When placed on RHD, group 1 started therapy with epoetin, 39 patients of group 2 continued epoetin treatment. Results. Patients of group 2 had a higher rate of eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) with reduced ejection fraction and development of congestive cardiac failure and coronary heart disease. Eccentric L VH in group 1 patients regressed only in 80% when the patients were on hemodialysis and received epoetin for correction of anemia. Overall cardiac death in group 1 was twice that of group 2 patients. Conclusion. Early correction of anemia led to a 50% increase in 5-year survival. This fact can be explained with inhibited progression of eccentric LVH.

Keywords

• left ventricular hypertrophy
• chronic renal failure
• survival
• erythropoietin
• anemia