Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin administration on immunological indices in patients undergoing chronic...

In patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, marked anemia may cause decreased immunological function. To improve this anemia, we investigated the effect on immunological indices of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) administration in 24 hemodialysis patients (13 males and 11 females) with renal anemia complications. Their mean age was 54.9 +/- 14.8 years and the mean duration of dialysis was 100.5 +/- 54.9 months. The subjects were treated with rHuEPO for 12 months, which helped to maintain a hematocrit value elevated by 5% from the baseline. Cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity were assessed prior to as well as throughout the treatment period. Of the total number of patients studied, the anemia of 16 improved while 8 did not show signs of sufficient improvement. The improved group showed an increase in in vitro lymphocytic response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), CD4/CD8, CD16 and serum IgM levels, while the CD8 level decreased significantly. Improvement in the general physical condition with rHuEPO treatment appeared to be associated with the changes in immunological indices, but the precise mechanism remains obscure.