Clinical application of recombinant erythropoietin in renal dialysis patients

The advent of erythropoietin (EPO) can be considered one of the major advances over the past 10 years in the treatment of end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients who are receiving chronic maintenance dialysis. Not only has it resulted in freedom from transfusion dependency and elimination of the attendant risks, but it also has led to a significant improvement in the quality of life these patients are able to achieve within the physical and emotional limitations imposed by the multiple metabolic abnormalities, concomitant medical problems of ESRD, and the dialysis process itself.