RESUMO
Anemia is a common clinical feature in chronic renal failure(CRF) patients. The primary cause of anemia in CRF is a deficiency of erythropoietin which is normally produced in the kidney. Erythropoietin therapy for correcting anemia has greatly increased the well-being of CRF patients and decreased cardiac morbidity. In Korea approximately 40% of CRF population on maintenance dialysis are using recombinant human erythropoietin(rhEPO). Commercially available rhEPO used in Korea is imported from abroad. Recently LG Chemical Co., produced rhEPO. In this study we evaluated the effect of LG-rhEPO on anemia in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. A total of 23 normal male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. A two-stage 5/6 nephrectomy was performed under ether anesthesia in 15 rats(group 1), additional 4 rats underwent sham operation(group 2). 4 normal rats served as normal control(group 3). rhEPO was injected subcutaneously 8 weeks after surgery. To evaluate the dose effect of rhEPO 250 IU/kg/day was injected in 2 rats, 500IU/kg/day in 4 rats, and 1000 IU/kg/day in 4 rats in group 1. To exclude the effect of LG-rhEPO vehicle, PBS, the same amount of PBS was injected in 4 rats in group 1. One rat each in groups 2 and 3 received rhEPO 250 IU/kg/day, 500 IU/kg/day, 1000 IU/kg /day, and PBS. rhEPO or PBS were injected daily in the first week, every other day in the second week and twice a week in the third week. Body weight and hematocrit level were observed weekly for the initial 8 weeks of observation period and then every other day for 3 weeks of injection and 1 week after discontinuation of injection, and BUN level every week during the study period. Body weight progressively increased in 3 groups. BUN level increased 1 week after 5/6 nephrectomy in group 1 and was stable in group 2 and 3. Hct level was significantly lower after 2 weeks of nephrectomy in group 1. Hct decreased transiently for the first week after sham operation and then returned to the baseline value in group 2. No significant change in Hct level was observed in group 3. After injection of rhEPO, Hct level increased significantly at 2 days in all 3 groups. Hct level increased significanly at 2 days in all 3 groups. Hct did not change in 3 groups with PBS injecion. In conclusion LG-rhEPO is effective in correcting anemia in animal model of CRF. A further study to evaluate the effect rhEPO on anemia in CRF patients and longterm consequences are required.