[Utilization of EPO in CAPD]

From January 1988 to September 1990 14 uremic patients in CAPD underwent EPO therapy in the Nephrology and Dialysis Unit of the "E. Agnelli" Hospital in Pinerolo. Intravenous routes were used in 5 patients and subcutaneous routes in the remaining 9 patients, with a unified dose of 4000 IU/three times a week. Both methods were equally efficacious in achieving the set target: partial correction of anemia together with an improvement in the patients' well-being. The most frequent side-effect was increased blood pressure, above all in those patients with pre-existing hypertension. Satisfactory control was achieved by adjusting anti-hypertensive therapy. Low EPO doses, administered via a subcutaneous route once and twice a week (mean dose: 61.6 +/- 35.8 IU/kg/week), allowed hemoglobin values to be maintained at previous levels. On these grounds the method could also be used for patients in hemodialysis.