Waqar Ahmed, Rizwanul Haque, Tahir Siafi.
Effect of androgens and erythropoietin on hemoglobin in patients of end stage renal disease on hemodialysis.
Proceeding Shaikh Zayed Postgrad Med Inst Jan ;15(2):61-5.

Adequate exogenous erythropoietin (EPO) is the treatment of choice for anemia in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). But high cost of EPO is one of the limitations. Addition of androgen may enhance the erythropoitic response by increasing tire sensitivity of the erythroid progenitors to the exogenous EPO. 11 patients (6 male and 5 females) suffering from anemia of chronic renal failure were given 100 mg of androlone decorate intramuscularly, once a week for three months along with their previous dose of EPO. At the end of the three months hemoglobin increased from 9.2±0.8 gm/dl to 10.1 ±0.8 gm/dl (P .001) and serum albumin from 3.5±0.4 gm/dl to 4.1±0. 3gm/dl (P<0.001).The dry weight of the patients did not changed significantly. No significant side effects like elevated liver enzymes or hypertension were seen during the study period. It is concluded that androgen therapy significantly augments the erythropoitic action of erogenous EPO atleast for short period i.e. three months. Further studies to see the effects of prolonged rise of androgens in combination with EPO are needed.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com