[Effect of acute viral hepatitis B on erythropoiesis in chronic hemodialyzed patients].

The influence of acute hepatitis B on erythropoiesis has been investigated in 30 chronic hemodialyzed patients (mean age 48.3 years; mean duration of dialysis until first demonstration of Hbs-antigen 6.5 months). After onset of hepatitis the mean hematocrit value increased significantly (p less than 0.005) and in 15 of the 30 dialysis patients this increase was more than 10% of the initial value. In these 15 patients the mean value of the hematocrit increased from 21.7 to 27.7%. This maximum value was observed after 4 months on average, and the favourable effect on erythropoiesis was observed for 7.8 months on average. The groups of patients with and without increase in hematocrit (more than 10% of the initial value) after hepatitis differed significantly (p less than 0.01) in extent of the observed increase in transaminases. The importance of extrarenal, hepatic erythropoietin production for the stimulation of erythropoiesis during hepatitis in chronic hemodialyzed patients is discussed.