Adverse effects of therapy for the correction of anemia in hemodialysis patients.

The traditional options available for the correction of hemodialysis-related anemia are blood transfusions and androgen therapy to stimulate erythropoiesis. A new therapeutic option, recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO; EPOGEN, AMGEN Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA), is currently undergoing clinical trials. Each treatment alternative has certain attendant adverse effects. The adverse effects of transfusion include transmission of infections such as hepatitis or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, iron overload, and sensitization to histocompatibility antigens. Androgen therapy can cause masculinization of women and children and, in some forms, is associated with a high incidence of abnormal liver function. Treatment with r-HuEPO has some potential adverse effects, including hypertension, thrombosis of arteriovenous fistulae, prolonged duration of dialysis, hyperkalemia, and iron deficiency. Gradual and careful introduction of r-HuEPO should prevent hypertension from becoming problematic.