Varying heparin requirements in hemodialysis patients receiving erythropoietin

A two-phase study was undertaken to investigate the incidence, extent, and management of increased heparin needs occurring during erythropoietin (EPO) therapy in the hemodialysis patient. Individual heparin doses and activated clotting time (ACT) test values were the parameters used to indicate changes in heparin requirements. It appears that increased heparin requirements are frequently associated with EPO therapy, and awareness of this finding, coupled with close ACT monitoring, may possibly prevent complications associated with undetected increases in heparin requirement.