Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin on adrenergic activity in normotensive hemodialysis patients

Ten normotensive hemodialysis patients with severe anemia participated in the study. Human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEpo) was administered i.v. 3 times a week in doses of 50 U/kg of body weight. During 12 weeks of observation, the mean hematocrit value increased from 19%, before start of therapy, to 32%. Simultaneous monitoring of serum plasma noradrenaline (NA) concentration showed an elevation from 202 to 281 pg/ml. An increase of NA concentration after a cold pressure stimulating test (CP) was not statistically significant after as compared to before treatment, but became statistically significant after 12 weeks of rHuEpo therapy (281 pg/ml before to 441 pg/ml after CP test, p < 0.01). The mean arterial blood pressure increased from 92 - 109 mmHg after 12 weeks of rHuEpo therapy (p < 0.001). We have demonstrated significantly increased NA blood concentrations after 12 weeks of rHuEPO therapy in normotensive patients, which correlated with increased MAP. This may suggest that the observed increase of noradrenaline concentration as a vasoactive substance after the CP test may contribute to hypertension during rHuEPO therapy.