[Recombinant human erythropoietin in uremic patients in substitute treatment]

The recent availability of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (EPO) has radically stirred-up diagnosis and therapeutical approach of anemia in dialysis patients. By correcting anemia in a dose related manner in virtually all dialysis patients, clinical use of EPO has confirmed its remarkable efficiency. Correction of anemia marked by a rapid improvement in "well being" of patients is also objectively associated with the correction of most of the debilatating multiple organs dysfunction due to the uremic state. Hypertension is one of the more frequent and worrying complication associated with EPO therapy. Optimal use of EPO, integrating administration route and frequency of injections, will reduce the EPO doses needed and minimize cost and side-effects incidence. EPO represents a major advance in the treatment of chronic uremia. EPO opens a new therapeutic era offering for the first time a substitute to a kidney endocrine failure.