Benefits of erythropoietin in renal transplantation

Anemia is a common complication in patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD), including transplanted patients. Recent studies have found a prevalence of anemia of about 30%, whereas less than 10% of these patients received recombinant human erythropoietin. Factors explaining this high incidence of anemia in renal transplant recipients include delayed and impaired graft function and use of drugs inhibiting the action of angiotensin II and preventing rejection. Like in CKD patients, chronic anemia may impact on the cardiovascular system and finally on the high mortality of these patients. Recent data suggest also that anemia may be a factor of progression of renal dysfunction in kidney transplant recipients. A French randomized multicenter study was designed to answer this question.