Erythropoietin-induced iritis-like reaction.

The present report describes an iritis-like reaction found in 13 patients treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (Eprex), a drug given to hemodialysis patients for their chronic anemia. Among 120 patients being treated by hemodialysis in two centers affiliated with our medical center, ten out of 30 Eprex-treated patients but none of 90 not being treated with Eprex developed this reaction. The observations described support a causal relation between Eprex treatment and the iritis-like reaction. Further investigative effort is needed to establish the mechanism.