EFFECT OF SUBCUTANEOUS RECOMBINANT HUMAN ERYTHROPOIETIN ON BLOOD PRESSURE IN PRE-DIALYSIS CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD) PATIENTS

Objective: To determine the effect of subcutaneous recombinant human erythropoietin on blood pressure in predialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Study Design: Case-series descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Peshawar, from Mar 2016 to Sep 2016. Methodology: A total of 100 cases were enrolled. Inclusion criteria was patients of 18 to 60 years of both gender & estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 having Hb <10g/dL and pre-dialysis while Exclusion Criteria was pregnancy or lactation, BP more than 140/90 mmHg, patients on Haemodialysis and worsening renal function. Baseline BP, body weight and eGFR of anaemic chronic kidney disease patients were recorded prior to EPO Alpha therapy. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) i.e. EPO Alpha (50-100 Units/kg thrice or once weekly) was administered subcutaneously. Subsequent blood pressure, body weight and eGFR monitoring was done after 2 and 4 weeks post EPO Alpha injection. Results: Mean age range was 46.71 years with range of 20-60 years, 73 (73%) were male while 27 (27%) werefemales. Mean ± SD for other quantitative variables like eGFR was 23.12 ± 5.28, Hb levels (g/dL) was 8.62 ± 0.85,Weight (kg) was 56.66 ± 6.62 and duration of CKD was 9.87 ± 4.02. Frequency of Hypertension (post EPO) was 2(2%) and p-value was 0.453. Conclusion: We concluded that the frequency of hypertension in pre-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPo) subcutaneously (SC) in low doses, is very low, so rhEPo can be used subcutaneously