Plasma endothelin in haemodialysis patients treated with recombinant human erythropoietin

Predialysis plasma endothelin (ET) values were followed duringthe first 8 weeks of rHuEpo treatment in 12 patients on routinehaemodialysis. Mean plasma ET was significantly increased inuraemic patients before rHuEpo (27.911.4 pmol/1), as comparedto 40 healthy controls (16.55.7 pmol/1) (p<0.0001). UnderrHuEpo treatment, predialysis values remained unchanged althoughdiastolic blood pressure increased after 2 and 6 weeks. We foundno correlation between ET and haemoglobin or blood pressurebefore or under rHuEpo treatment. These results confirmed thehigh levels of plasma ET in haemodialysis patients, but no increasewas observed during rHuEpo treatment.