Bushra Moiz, Khalid Zafar Hashmi, Iffat Yazdani.
Erythropoietin Induced Hypertension.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;10(9):317-20.

Hypertension has frequently been reported in association with Erythropoietin (EPO) use In-patients with renal failure. However, the relation between the two is complex, as chronic renal failure itself is associated with numerous cardiovascular complications including hypertension. The present clinical trial was undertaken to appreciate this unwanted effect of EPO in 24 hemodialysed patients with end stage renal disease. Out of them, 12 were hypertensives already receiving anti-hypertensive medication at the start of EPO therapy while rest were normotensive. These patients were randomly divided into group A and B, each had 12 patients (6 hypertensive and 6 normotensive). Group A received EPO in dose of 40 units/kg body weight subcutaneously twice a week while group B was given double dose. The blood pressures of all the patients were noted before and during 10 weeks of EPO treatment, their hematocrit, hemoglobin, iron profile and blood chemistry were also monitored. Only 3 hypertensive patients receiving 80 a/kg EPO showed worsening of their blood pressures. No significant pressure changes were observed in normotensives with either EPO dosage or in hypertensive patients receiving low dose EPO. Our study showed that low dose EPO therapy could effectively be used to reverse anemia in renal failure patients without significantly altering their blood pressures. However, a minority of already hypertensive patients might show a worsening of their blood pressures with higher doses of EPO.

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