[Evaluation of the relationship between possible control of anemia in hemodialysis patients and the concentration of leptin].

There are many growth factors (GFs), which stimulate the proliferation and maturation of erythroid progenitors. The main one is erythropoietin (Epo). Epo acts in concert with other GFs. Recently it was suggested that leptin (Lep) could be involved in a very early stage of erythropoiesis (E). The aim of this study was to analyse the relations between ability of idiopathic compensation of anemia by hemodialysis patients (HD pts) and concentration of Lep in HD men and women separately. The study was performed in 25/13M, 12F/HD pts, who idiopathically compensate anemia (group 1) and 29/16M, 13F/HD pts who required rHuEpo therapy (group 2). The mean Lep level in all women together was significantly higher than in all HD men together (26.9 +/- 6.3 ng/mL vs 6.8 +/- 0.9 ng/mL) but BMI was similar in men and women. We did not find significant differences in level of Lep in both studied groups of HD pts. Perhaps the lower influence of Epo and testosterone on E in HD women is compensated by significantly higher Lep concentration.