Influence of ‘Nonhematological’ Doses of Erythropoietin on Lipid- Carbohydrate Metabolism and Life Quality in Hemodialysis Patients

Jacek Manitius MD, PhD, Department of Nephrology, Institute of Internal Medicine, Gdańsk School of Medicine, ul. Dębinki 7, 80-211 Gdańsk (Poland) Dear Sir, Erythropoietin administration is a well-established therapy of anemia in hemodia-lyzed patients. During the treatment, along with an increase in red blood cell number also an improvement of life quality (energy, well-being, sexual interest) was observed [1]. Moreover, recent studies have shown an impact of erythropoietin on a lipid-carbohydrate metabolism, immune system and endocrinological functions [2, 3]. Unfortunately, it is still unclear if all these changes are caused by a direct erythropoietin activity or they are associated with a correction of anemia. In the present study, we attempted to evaluate whether at doses of erythropoietin not affecting erythropoiesis, some of the effects mentioned above could be achieved. Preliminarly, we selected six hemodia-lyzed patients: 3 male and 3 female, 4 of them