PP.25.02: INFLUENCE OF ERYTROPOIETIN DOSE ON BLOOD PRESSURE IN MAINENTANCE HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS IN DIALYSIS CENTRES IN DALMATIA COUNTY IN SOUTHERN CROATIA. (June 2015) - Radic, J.
Abstract : Objective: Chronic administration of erythropoietin (EPO) is associated with an increase in arterial blood pressure in patients with chronic renal failure. EPO may improve anaemia, but it may cause hypertension in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate EPO effects on blood pressure of maintenance haemodialysis (HD) patients. Figure. No caption available. Design and method: In this study 402 patients (232 males, 170 females; aged 68.3 ± 13.8 years) on maintained HD (4.73 ± 5.17 years) were included in Dalmatian HD centres in Southern Croatia. Primary outcome measures for every single observed HD were systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) before and after HD treatment and also systolic and diastolic blood pressure two hours after beginning of the first HD in observed week. Additionally, EPO dosages (IU) per week were observed. Secondary outcome measures were mean arterial pressure (MAP) calculated as (systolic + 2diastolic blood pressure)/3 (mmHg), and pulse pressure (PP) computed as (systolic-diastolic blood pressure) (mmHg). MAP and PP value were calculated before HD, two hours after beginning of the HD and after HD treatment. Results: The mean EPO weekly dose for Dalmatian HD patients was 5134.26 ± 4375.82 IU. The significant correlation between EPO weekly dose and all blood pressure value observed (before HD, two hours after beginning of HD and after HD treatment) in this study was found in maintenance HD patients in dialysis centres in Dalmatia county in southern Croatia (Table 1). Conclusions: According to the findings of our study, EPO weekly dose increases systolic, diastolic, MAP and PP in this population of HD patients. Clinicians should be aware of blood pressure increasing after EPO administration and have to control it accurately. Previous studies suggested that EPO-induced hypertension is not dependent on hyperviscosity and several mechanisms have been considered in the pathogenesis of EPO-induced hypertension. Further investigations are necessary to establish all possible etiologic factors underlying this phenomenon.