Treatment of Post-transplant Erythrocytosis with Enalapril

This prospective study was carried out to estimate the efficacy and safety of Enalapril therapy in post-transplant erythrocytosis. Thirteen long-term renal allograft recipients (11 males and two females) with increased hematocrit values (>51%) and elevated red cell mass were treated with Enalapril for 12 weeks; their age ranged from 18 to 54 years. At the end of the study period the mean hematocrit values decreased from 53.9% to 46.7%, red cell mass significantly decreased from 50.8 ml/kg to 40.5 ml/kg. During the following six months without Enalapril treatment, an increase in hematocrit was observed reaching a mean of 47.5%. In conclusion, enalapril can be safely and efficiently used to treat post-transplant erythrocytosis.