Are high flux dialysis and erythropoietin treatment in a collision course?

Twenty patients treated with human recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) for 9 months were studied. The patients were randomly allocated to high flux (HF) or conventional dialysis (CD). Patients on HF used the F-60 or F-80 dialyzer, with a polysulfone membrane; QB: 470 ml/min; QD: 800 ml/min; t: 127 min; Kt/V: 1.01. Conventional dialysis patients used regenerated cellulosic membranes; QB: 297 ml/min; QD: 500 ml/min; t: 193 min; Kt/V: 1.05. Mean dose of EPO was 103 U/kg for HF patients and 112.4 U/kg for patients on CD. At 9 months, no significant differences were observed in HCT (HF 33.6% vs. CD 33.2%), BUN, serum creatinine, potassium, or phosphorus. Hemoconcentration during dialysis was 12% for HF and 17% for CD. Urea clearance decreased 7% for HF and 9% for CD, while clearance of creatinine, potassium, and phosphorus decreased between 14 and 18% with both treatments. Heparin requirements increased 10% in HF and 16% in CD. Hypertension was similar in both groups. One HF patient withdrew from the study because of hypertension and one HF patient had seizures related to hypertension. Vascular access clotting or hospitalizations were no different. High flux dialysis patients on EPO over a 9 month period did not have any catastrophic complications when HCT was maintained between 30 and 35%.