Efficacy of recombinant erythropoietin after subcutaneous or intraperitoneal administration to patients on CAPD.

Recombinant erythropoietin (R-EPO) administered i.v. is effective in correcting anemia in patients on hemodialysis (HD). As subcutaneous (s.c.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) dosing would be preferable in CAPD patients, we have evaluated its efficacy when given by these routes. Sixteen CAPD patients (mean Hb 7.3 +/- 1.6 g/dl) have been divided into two groups: group A received s.c. self-administered R-EPO (starting dose 92 +/- 35 U/kg/week) two times a week; in group B R-EPO was given i.p. (170 +/- 42 U/kg/week) thrice weekly. The observation period lasted about 12 months. All patients reached a target Hb greater than 10 g/dl. Group A achieved a full response within 9 +/- 2 weeks, group B within 13 +/- 1.7 (p less than 0.005). In group A the starting R-EPO dose was not changed; in group B it was increased to 225 +/- 45 U/kg/week. We observed no differences in the incidence of peritonitis in the two groups. Our findings show that both R-EPO administration routes are safe and efficient in correcting anemia in patients on CAPD. A shorter period of treatment and lower doses of R-EPO seem to be required to achieve the same target Hb level when using the s.c. rather than the i.p. application route.