Once weekly subcutaneous administration of erythropoietin in haemodialysis patient

Twenty-five anaemic patients of End Stage Renal Disease [ESRD] on maintenance haemodialysis at the Kidney Centre were studied. Recombinant human erythropoietin [EPO] 50-units/kg body weight was given once a week subcutaneously to see the response to therapy. In 21 cases haemoglobin increased significantly from 7.5 to 9.5 g/dl and haematocrit from 23 to 30.5 L/L with success rate of 84% and marked improvement in their quality of life. Once a week subcutaneous administration of erythropoietin is convenient and cost effective in reversing renal anaemia with minimal complications