Open AccessThe influence of erythropoietin on levels of endothelin‐1 and nitric oxide in patients on hemodialysis
Author(s) -
Tomić Monika,
Galešić Krešimir,
Markota Ivica,
Markota Nina Pinjuh,
Zelenika Anka
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
dialysis & transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1932-6920
pISSN - 0090-2934
DOI - 10.1002/dat.20378
Subject(s) - medicine , erythropoietin , hemodialysis , dialysis , blood pressure , endothelin receptor , nitric oxide , gastroenterology , urology , endocrinology , surgery , receptor
OBJECTIVE Examine the influence of the chronic use of erythropoietin on the value of endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) and nitric oxide (NO), as well as on ET‐1/NO ratio in serum, before and after dialysis. METHODS A total of 30 patients on hemodialysis were included in the study. Different doses of erythropoietin were administered at least 3 weeks before study. All patients had stable blood pressure values, without changes in antihypertensive therapy in the last 3 months, and without significant intradialytic hypertension and hypotension. The concentration of ET‐1 and NO was measured before and after dialysis treatment. Blood pressure was measured before dialysis, each hour during dialysis, and after dialysis. The control group had 20, age and sex matched, healthy examinees. RESULTS Endothelin‐1 was increased in all patients treated with hemodialysis compared to healthy controls, but their values did not correlate with the weekly dosage of erythropoietin. The level of NO after dialysis was significantly lower in patients receiving hemodialysis compared to healthy controls. The ET‐1/NO ratio is increased in patients treated with dialysis compared to healthy controls, but this does not correlate with the weekly dosage of erythropoietin. The decrease of the value of ET‐1 and NO was noted at the end of dialysis compared to the values measured before dialysis. DISCUSSION Our results show that the chronic use of erythropoietin in patients treated with hemodialysis does not affect the levels of serum ET‐1 and NO as well as the ET‐1/NO ratio. A significant decrease of ET‐1 and NO is noted compared to the values before dialysis.